Healthy relationships
How to have healthy relationships
Healthy relationships happen when two people commit to helping each other become the best version of themselves.
Today, many of us are not in healthy relationships. The 50% divorce rate is a statistic most of us are familiar with.
While sometimes personality issues or differences in what we want out of life can cause a relationship to end, there are two issues that are fundamental to a healthy relationship: communication and trust.
Communication
Healthy relationships are often threatened because of a lack of communication. If we are going to have our own needs fulfilled as well as meet the needs of our partner, we not only need to learn to share how we feel, but we also need to really hear and understand what our partner is trying to tell us.
In close relationships, many people can expect the other person to know what we need without us having to ask. This kind of thinking will lead to disappointment. We always need to communicate clearly with our partner. If we say nothing and our needs are not met, this often leads to resentment and arguments that can damage the relationship. Learning to communicate in a healthy manner is the foundation of any healthy relationship.
Trust
A healthy relationship cannot exist without trust. If you or your partner are prone to jealousy, it is important to discover and address the underlying reasons. Jealousy is a symptom of deep insecurity. It can also be encouraged by bad behavior — if one partner is lying or acting in a way that indicates they are not trustworthy, it will undermine any chance of developing a close and
healthy relationship.
Relationships are complicated, and sometimes two partners can struggle over power and control. These dynamics can lead not only to jealousy but also to abusive behavior. Sometimes jealousy is a reaction to a past relationship where the person has been cheated on. This is understandable but it is an issue that
can be worked through.
Jealousy can even be a reaction to growing up with parents who did not trust each other. If there is no need for jealousy, then both partners can work together to resolve this issue and develop trust.
Counseling for a healthy relationship
If you are experiencing challenges in your relationship, counseling can help you learn to communicate and build trust. In couples counseling, we offer a safe place for you and your partner to express yourselves and listen to each other. Couples therapy is not a place to assign blame; it is a space to create openness, understanding, and healing.
If you are alone and having difficulty finding or maintaining relationships, it is important to understand this is also a time for growth and healing. Learning how to handle a breakup is a normal and necessary part of life, as is learning to be comfortable with being alone if you are between relationships. Individual counseling can help you work through underlying issues and create a vibrant life whether or not you are in a relationship.
When we are comfortable with being alone and content to wait for the right person, we increase our chances of eventually finding and creating a healthy relationship.
Individual and couples therapy
Fulfilling and warm relationships are one of the most important sources of satisfaction and happiness. If you are struggling, either alone or with a partner, you are welcome to get in touch by phone or by filling out the contact form and pressing Send.
