1. Connect with each other through touch to feel alive EVERY day.
2. Be responsible to REMOVE your criticism, put-downs, blaming, shaming and negativity in your relationship space.
3. Be aware of YOUR reactivity so you don’t vomit it into the relationship.
4. Make a big deal about what you appreciate about your partner EVERY day.
5. Make direct eye contact with each other for at least 10 seconds EVERY day.
6. How can you self-soothe when you are frustrated, angry or negative?
7. Show each other respect and hold yourself responsible for what you do.
8. Have interests, hobbies and/or other relationships outside of your relationship, which creates a more whole person with interesting bits.
9. Carve out time for your relationship as a couple.
10. No one has the perfect romance like the movies and lives happily ever after.. and neither will you; it’s healthy to work on your relationship.
Awareness and communication are what makes a connected relationship work. If you feel you are having difficulty communicating with your partner, it would be beneficial to have a therapist guide you in the process. Sometimes couples become so emotionally disconnected and stuck in negative patterns that it is difficult to talk openly and honestly. If this feels like you, then reaching out to a professional social worker could be a great step toward having a connected relationship.
For any questions regarding relationship therapy as an individual or couple, feel free to email me or call me at (516) 592-1107.
Chana Pfeifer, LCSW, CIT
Counseling for couples and individual adults in a safe, supportive place.