How to Help Yourself — And Others — With Suicidal Ideation
How to Help Yourself – And Others – with Suicidal Ideation By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP September is Suicide Awareness Month. And while
Relationships can be tricky whether you’re dating, married, or amid something complicated. We’ve all heard that maintaining healthy (and happy!) relationships takes work. However, what does that really mean? If you’re wondering, how can you keep a relationship strong and healthy, we’re here to help. As professional couples counselors, we can assure you that maintaining good relationships isn’t a long and overly complicated process. Truth be told, it’s a lot easier than society leads us to believe.
Today’s blog post covers 10 ways for how to keep a relationship strong and healthy. Keep reading to learn how to maximize and maintain the honeymoon phase.
Have things started to feel stagnant? Can’t seem to find the sparks? Are the good times becoming few and far between? Don’t worry if this sounds familiar, a couples therapist can help you find the root of your relational problems and overcome them. In the meantime, here are the top 10 ways you can keep a relationship strong (from the pros):
Breakup statistics reveal that money is one of the most common sources of conflict for married couples. Therefore, it’s important to discuss early on how money is spent, earned, saved, or shared. We recommend determining how each partner views financial life and addressing differences as needed.
Is what you’re constantly arguing about really worth arguing over? It is easy for a trifling issue to manifest into something bigger. Therefore, talk about what is actually bothering you instead of sweating the small stuff. Open communication is one of the simplest ways to make your relationship stronger.
It is incredibly easy to revert to a ‘me versus them’ mentality when fighting. However, don’t let yourself get locked into that win/lose dynamic. When you’re facing a disagreement, think of it as you two against the problem, not you two against each other. Approach things from a ‘we’ perspective and avoid the temptation to cast blame.
Intimacy is a lot more than just sex. To foster a healthy and happy relationship, it’s important to show your partner how much you care about them. Hold their hand in public, compliment their new hairstyle, or do something else that demonstrates your love for them. And if you feel like your partner isn’t giving you the attention you crave, tell them that.
We’ve all heard that actions speak louder than words. However, you need both in a relationship. Telling your partner that you love them will carry more weight when you’re also doing things that they value. Showing (and telling!) your partner that you care is a surefire way to make your relationship stronger.
While every couple is different, you and your partner both have things on your plate. For example, if you’re both working 9-to-5s (and coming home tired, hungry, and – let’s be honest – a bit crabby), who should prepare dinner? And help the kids with their homework? Or clean up around the house? If you haven’t already guessed, the answer is both of you. To keep a relationship healthy and happy, both partners need to make an effort.
Even though you’re in a relationship, you and your partner are two different people. While it might be tempting to match your identity to the person you’re with, it will only make you lose track of yourself. If this happens, you risk becoming overly dependent on your partner. Not only will this put a major strain on the relationship, but you could feel trapped and unable to move on if/when things aren’t working.
Good communication is a must when it comes to maintaining strong relationships. And when we say communication, we mean intentionally listening, understanding, and responding. Proper communication involves: a) one partner addressing a particular issue and, b) the other listening intently until their partner is finished. Avoid the temptation to listen solely for a place to jump in and start inserting your opinion.
Marriage works best when you approach it as a unified team. It’s unfair to expect your partner to be absolutely everything you need. Instead, you should learn to honor their strengths and work with their weaknesses. (Because spoiler alert – you have them too.) Never try and change your partner or expect them to be someone they’re not.
Another way to keep your relationship strong is to set goals as a couple. Consider where you would like to be one, five, or even ten years in the future. Then, work together towards that goal. If you continue adding goals along the way, you will continue to strengthen your relationship.
So, how can you keep a relationship strong and healthy? We hope that today’s blog post helped you find an answer. However, if you’re still struggling with issues in your relationship, the best way to solve them is to speak with a professional couples counselor or therapist.
Here at Fort Wellness Counseling, we have helped couples solve their problems and maintain healthy, harmonious relationships. Whether you’re dealing with infidelity, lack of intimacy, or are simply feeling disconnected, we can help get your relationship back on track.
Ready to see what we can do for you? Book your appointment today.
How to Help Yourself – And Others – with Suicidal Ideation By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP September is Suicide Awareness Month. And while
32 Questions to Strengthen Your Relationship By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation with your
The Fawn Response: How Trauma Can Lead to People Pleasing By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Do you often find yourself putting the needs
How to Overcome ‘Hangxiety’ (Post-Drinking Anxiety) By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Thought the consequences of drinking heavily were merely physical? Unfortunately, you’ll have
What is Box Breathing? Plus Tips for Beginners By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Ever heard of box breathing? This popular relaxation technique involves
Do Mindfulness Exercises for Anxiety Work? By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Do mindfulness exercises for anxiety work? If you (or people in your
What is Trauma Bonding? 4 Warning Signs By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP If you’ve ever been in an abusive relationship and felt bonded
Why Do We Cry? 4 Reasons and Crying Benefits By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP There’s no getting around it – crying is part
What Is Habit Stacking? (And How to Do It) By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Supporting our mental health is one of those goals
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Brainspotting vs. EMDR: What’s the Difference? By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 70% of American adults
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How To Not Be Codependent In A Relationship By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Wondering how to not be codependent in a relationship? Sometimes
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8 Proven Tips to Sleep Better at Night (and Improve Your Mental Health) By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Struggling with restless nights and
How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Social Media By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP In today’s world, there’s no escaping the presence of
What Is The Goal of Psychotherapy? By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Have you been considering psychotherapy? The start of a new year is
What is Brainspotting Therapy? By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Brainspotting therapy is a kind of alternative therapy that is gaining immense popularity in
Healing After an Affair: 7 Strategies for Affair Recovery Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP It doesn’t matter who you are – working through an
12 Benefits of Gratitude By: Rane Wallace, LPC, LCDC, SAP With Thanksgiving coming to a close, we thought it was fitting to explore the link
How to Avoid Seasonal Depression By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Daylight savings has officially come and gone. For most of us, this means
Top 10 Ways for How To Keep Your Relationship Strong and Healthy By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Relationships can be tricky whether you’re
10 Best Ways to Calm Yourself Down Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP When we’re navigating social media, complex relationships, and performance pressures, it’s easy
How to Set Boundaries Between Family Members By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Learning how to set boundaries between family members is imperative. From
Understanding the Quarter-Life Crisis By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP You’ve probably heard of the ominous mid-life crisis, right? Having been stereotyped in plenty
Am I An Alcoholic? 6 Warning Signs of Alcoholism By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Be honest, what comes to mind when you think
Top Coping Skills for Anxiety and Stress Management By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Being well into our second year of a global pandemic,
5 Self-Care Journaling Prompts for Mental Health By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP In the world we live in today, mental health struggles are
What to Do While You Wait for Counseling By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP From problems with anxiety to depression to addiction problems, there
What is Postpartum Depression? (And How to Overcome It) By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Have you or a loved one recently had a
The Effects of Stress on Your Body By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Are you feeling stressed out? Overwhelmed? Increasingly anxious? If so, you
How to Stop a Panic Attack: 9 Strategies By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP If you’ve experienced a panic attack, then you know how
Does Working from Home Affect Your Mental Health? By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Working from home can play a huge role on your
8 Signs You Are Addicted to Porn (And How It Ruins Relationships) By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP As a porn addiction therapist, I
Do I Need Therapy? 8 Signs You Should See a Therapist By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Are you stuck in a rut and
8 Tips for How to Help Someone Depressed By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Are you wanting to know how to help someone depressed?
15 Coping Skills for Stress Management By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP While I hate to say it, stress is something that will pretty
10 Helpful Coping Skills for Dealing with Difficult Times By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP Attending individual counseling sessions with a therapist can help
8 Tips for Coping with FOMO – The Fear of Missing Out By: Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP In this article, I’m going to
A Christian Counseling Approach to Mental Health Therapy Guest Post by Joel Peterson, M.A., L.P.C. What is mental health? Achieving your goals? Mental health and
Strategies for Helping Couples In and Out of Therapy Guest Post by Zully Shultz, MS, LMFT As a relationship therapist and marriage counselor in Fort