Relationship Struggles?
Emotional Disconnection with your intimate partner
With years of being married, kids, life stressors, and other factors, the relationship with our partner can deteriorate and the love and goodwill can disappear. “I have learned that a good marriage is like an orchid. The right amount of sunlight, water, and loving attention gives the most beautiful blossoms, But, if we ignore it, starve it, and leave it in the dark, the buds shrivel and eventually disappear” (Jill Squyres Groubert, PhD).
Red Flags for emotional disconnection
Lack of communication
Lack of Intimacy
Constant Conflicts
Financial Stressors
Poor conflict resolution skills
Different Values or Social Styles
Lack of Trust
Infidelity
Treatments
Couples therapy, also known as marriage therapy, is a type of counseling for intimate partners. It involves the exploration of any conflicts between the partners. In couples therapy, the process may address a condition such as anxiety or depression of one or both partners and how that condition impacts the relationship.
Couples therapy can help to improve communication, trust, conflict resolution, emotional connections, increase intimacy, and to strengthen the relationship.
How to increase intimacy and emotional connection with your partner
Increase communication.
Stop criticism.
No stonewalling
Increase Trust
Align values.
Understand each other’s needs.
Increase conflict resolution.
Respect each other’s opinions.
Consider one another.
Be a team.
Seeking Help
Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength. With the right support, you can overcome these challenges and strengthen your relationship.
You may also consider seeking out other resources such as online self-help tools or apps that offer couples conflict resolution techniques. These types of resources offer additional support without requiring face-to-face meetings with someone else.
Seek professional help to enhance emotional connections, strengthen communication, build the foundation of trust and empathy that will deepen intimacy, and improve the ability to solve problems and manage conflicts.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
-Henry Ford-
Sources
Verywellhealth: Mental Health-Therapy: What Is Couples Counseling? Marriage Counseling. By Ashley Olivine, PhD., MPH-Published on October 28, 2021-Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD.
Book: 8-Weeks COUPLES THERAPY WORKBOOK: Essential Strategies to Connect, Improve Communication, and Strengthen your Relationship-by Jill Squyres Groubert, PhD.
Disclaimer: These articles are not intended to be a replacement for therapy. These articles are for education only.
Please seek professional help for any concerns regarding mental health or medical health.
Please dial 988 if you are experiencing a mental health crisis for 24/7 crisis counselor support under the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
If you prefer text: Text "COURAGE" to 741741 for crisis text line or visit the following links: