Relationships

Loving a romantic partner is a process that requires understanding, patience, and a willingness to adapt and change. The key to a healthy and loving relationship is to be present and attentive to your partner’s needs, and to make their well-being a priority. This may mean putting aside your own wants and desires, and being open to change and growth within yourself, in order to better understand and support your loved one.

Seeking help for your mental health can be quite nerve-racking and not knowing what to expect can cause worry. However, it is important to remind yourself that you have already taken the hardest step, which is realising the need to seek support for yourself and taking action on it. There are many persistent myths about therapy that can influence a person’s decision to avoid seeking help. However, these myths are not based in fact, and knowing how to separate fact from fiction can help you make the decision to seek therapy.

For the many people who have yet to seek the mental health care they need, lingering questions about what to expect in therapy can create added anxiety. Contrary to what you may see in movies or TV shows, therapy is not always a dramatic process where you lie on a couch and spill your deepest secrets. The therapy process is more nuanced and complex than you might expect.

If you’re currently struggling and on the fence about therapy because you believe it’s for people with more severe problems, symptoms, or mental health conditions than you’re experiencing, I’d like to challenge you to abandon that assumption. Therapy offers numerous benefits to our total well-being.

“What to expect in couples therapy?” Is an important question you may be asking yourselves if you have never done it before. Therapy in general may seem overwhelming, as you know it can drudge up feelings that you have been trying to keep dormant for a long time. Add your partner in the mix and it can feel even more daunting as you both feel uncomfortable feelings. Couples can feel nervous about the process bringing to light that they are not meant to be together. All reasons for feeling nervous about reaching out and exploring couples therapy are completely valid and incredibly common.

“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.” – Dave Meurer While individual therapy can and does help people deal with relationship issues on their own, sometimes it’s helpful for a couple to attend therapy together to sort through difficulties. Marriage and couples counselling is a type of counselling that offers a safe environment for couples to explore difficulties, overcome obstacles, and work toward common goals.

One of the first complaints people have about counselling and psychotherapy is that ‘a therapist costs too much’. While a good therapist can indeed charge a healthy hourly rate, there is another side to money and therapy to consider. Can therapy help you get your life together to the point you are actually earning more money than before? We’d say a solid yes, and here’s our reasons why.

If you’re considering therapy, you may be thinking about the possible drawbacks. Cost might be a concern for you. You might also be aware that therapy is often difficult. Trauma or other painful events from the past can be frightening to remember and discuss with someone. Working through challenges isn’t easy, and therapy isn’t always a quick fix. Make sure that when you’re ready to see a therapist that you can be honest with yourself and with your them.

Life is full of ups and downs, problems and challenges. It’s common to wonder if you actually need therapy. Admitting that you need help and reaching out can help you get back on track. Going to therapy isn’t a sign of weakness or something to be ashamed of. It’s also important to understand that you don’t need to have a diagnosed mental health condition in order to benefit from therapy.

Simply put, unconditional love is love for another person without regard for how it will benefit you or what you will receive in return. Unconditional love in a relationship means that each person is free to be themselves without worrying about rejection or abandonment. Rather than judging or scorning each other for their flaws or missteps, they give and receive compassion and acceptance. To love in this way is to offer genuine love, the kind of love that encourages others to be authentic.

Respect is important in all human relationships. Philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that everyone deserves basic respect just by being human. But what exactly is respect? Respect, also known as esteem, is an attitude or behaviour demonstrating admiration for someone or something held in high esteem. It is also the process of honouring someone by demonstrating care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings.

All of us have an intense desire to be loved and nurtured. The need to be loved, could be considered one of our most basic and fundamental needs. The term “love” refers to more than just romantic love; it also refers to love between a parent and a child, love between brothers and sisters, and love given by a person to an animal, but we will focus on romantic love in this series. Intimacy, or the need to be physically close to someone, is a common expression of love.