Your relationship is precious... why not look after it?

Here at Relate, we believe that relationships are the most precious thing in life. But we also understand that keeping a relationship healthy isn't always easy. With our new campaign, Heart to Heart, we want to spread the message that relationships deserve to be looked after and that it's best to get support as soon as possible.

Relationship expert Paula Hall says, It’s never too late to get help for your relationship. The sooner you come to Relate, the sooner you can sort out your problems. Don’t bury your head in the sand and get help if things aren’t right.

Some helpful tools for a healthy relationship

Enjoying each other's company

A common component of a healthy relationship is companionship. Couples who share interests are likely to make time to be together and have a relationship that’s rich with conversation and most importantly, fun.

Intimacy

Intimacy means different things to different people but generally it defines a sense of closeness and really feeling as if you know each other. Couples who take time to be physically affectionate and share their personal feelings with each other generally describe their relationship as feeling stronger as a result.

Sexual relationship

It is usually the sexual relationship between a couple that makes their relationship special and unique. It really doesn’t matter how often you make love or how adventurous you are, what matters is that both of you find it pleasurable and rewarding.

Managing conflict

Differences of opinion are inevitable in every relationship and consequently so are disagreements. It doesn’t matter how often you argue as long as you learn to argue constructively. Healthy conflict finds solutions and builds respect and intimacy whereas unhealthy conflict can lead to growing resentment, distance and indifference.

Facing life's challenges

Unfortunately life is full of ups and downs and how you face those difficulties as a couple is a good indication of how healthy your relationship is. Whether it’s a health problem, difficulties with children, redundancy, money troubles or whatever else, when you’re able to face life challenges as a united team your relationship gets stronger.

Values

Our personal values form a fundamental part of who we are and are something that most of us wouldn’t want to compromise. When couples share the same values such as the importance of family, fidelity or fighting for the rights of others, it builds trust between them and can create a lasting bond.

Plans for the future

It doesn’t matter how well you get on now if you have different plans for the future. If one of you wants children and the other doesn’t, or one of you is desperate to live on a farm when the other is an ardent city type, then trouble is heading your way. But even if your relationship doesn’t feel particularly healthy right now but you’re both passionate about sharing the same future, chances are you’ll work together to achieve it.

Do you need to talk to someone?

Relate is urging people to stop and think about their relationships and take action if things aren’t quite right, sooner rather than later.

Call us now on 01234 356350 if you need to talk to one of our professional counsellors.

Don’t leave it too late.