How Healthy is Your Relationship?

There is evidence that people with a strong support network (family, friends, etc.) are healthier. Having a supportive partner can reduce stress, and happy marriages can even help you live longer. However, unhealthy relationships can have the opposite effect.

Best of Intentions

When two people get together they have the best of intentions, and many hope their relationship will last forever. However, this is not always easy to achieve; the realities of life can affect our relationships. For instance, your first child, bringing up teenagers, blended/step families can all have an impact. Other life changes can include moving house, redundancy, retirement, and the death of a partner. Additionally, our needs and expectations change as we grow and develop as individuals.

We know when our relationships are not working how we planned - we can feel taken for granted, ignored, misunderstood, resentful or angry. However, knowing that we are not happy is not the same thing as knowing what to do about it. We may see the warning signs but we don't always respond; we hope that things will sort themselves out, or we fear that we will make things worse just by bringing the subject up. Even if we do take the risk and open up a discussion, it sometimes seems as if we are going round in circles.

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Good Listeners

When people are unhappy they often want someone to mull their feelings over with. But in today's world good listeners are not always easy to find. For a variety of reasons we often feel we can't talk to family or friends. We may not want to 'put upon' them, we may worry that what we say will be passed on, or we may feel that they are imposing their own solutions on us. They might even be part of the problem!

Relationship counselling can provide a useful way forward from this impasse. Having someone neutral to talk to in confidence can be a relief in itself. However a qualified couple counsellor will do more than simply listen. She/he can provide insights which often enable us to make sense of what is happening and explore solutions which are right for us.

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Every Relationship is Special

Contrary to popular belief, relationship counselling is for anyone, not just for those that are married, or even those that want to stay together. Every relationship is special and unique - often the counselling process resolves difficult issues and the relationship continues, but even where the relationship ends counselling can still be beneficial.

It is true to say that the majority of relationship problems are best resolved if both of you come for counselling together. However, this does not mean that you can not attend sessions alone if, for instance, you are single, or your partner does not want to attend. It is always worth exploring this with the counsellor.

In conclusion, a healthy relationship is good for you, but this bond can be weakened by changes. If your relationship is in difficulties, help is readily available and counselling can provide a way of putting the fun, excitement and fulfilment back into your life.

Healthy Relationships Articles

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Best of Intentions

Good Listener

Special and Unique

Site last updated: 1st Jan 2012
Tel: 01455 612 167
Relationship counselling, marriage guidance and marital therapy from a professional practice in Hinckley town centre. Easy access from Leicester, Coventry, Nuneaton and the surrounding areas of Leicestershire and Warwickshire.