Couples Therapy: Addressing Communication Issues in your Relationship
Have you and your partner been struggling lately to understand one another?
Have you or your partner felt like either of you have not been heard when in conversations? If you said yes to either of these questions, it’s possible that you and your partner could be confronted with some communication issues within your relationship. Below we will start to describe some common communication problems in relationships and their remedies. If you are interested in learning more, you can reach out to us to schedule an appointment for couples therapy. The following discussed in this article is not a replacement for therapy services. This content is to give more context and ideas into poor communication issues and things that could be beneficial in resolution.
1. Passive Aggressive Behaviors
Passive-aggressive behavior is a common poor communication issue in various relationships. Some behaviors in association with this include giving silent treatment, making snide or sarcastic comments, claiming that everything is okay when body language doesn’t match, and giving back-handed compliments. Some people don’t know how to respond to passive-aggressive behaviors because when they present themselves they can feel confused. Avoiding the behavior or underlying conflict is not helpful in resolving this type of behavior.
Possible Remedies-
Address the behavior without blaming the other person. An example of this may be “Hey! I noticed that you sounded a little angry when you made that comment. Would you like to talk about it?”
Let them know how you feel about what was said with the use of “I” statements.
Be direct and clear in what you are asking from your partner.
2. Lack of intimacy in the relationship
Intimacy is a broad term in relationships. Intimacy can come in the form of emotionality, or physical closeness. Those that have poor boundaries or little to no communication about intimacy could run into problems within the relationship. An example of a lack of intimacy emotionally in a relationship may be that either partner doesn’t feel like they can talk about something that bothers them due to the way it could be taken by the other partner in the relationship. In a physical sense, it could mean that each partner is not in agreement or they don’t know how to have communication surrounding how they can be more or less physically intimate. Both of these things can have impacts on the relationship.
Possible Remedies-
Be direct and clear about what your boundaries are in regard to both physical intimacy and emotional intimacy. Consent is also very important even if you have been in a relationship for a long time. If your other partner is not wanting to do something, it’s best to respect them and their boundaries.
Let your partner know how you would like to be more intimate emotionally with them. Dedicate some time together during the week free from other distractions where you can both have meaningful conversations.
Speak with your doctor if you feel lacking intimacy could be due to an underlying medical condition.
3. Listening but not taking action or hearing your partner
You or your partner may be listening to you, but you don’t feel like you are actually being heard and taken seriously. As a result, that can develop into a lack of trust in the relationship.
Possible Remedies-
-Take breaks if it feels like the discussion is getting intense. It’s okay to take a break from a conversation as long as you agree to come back and talk about it at a later time.
- Ask your partner if they understand where you are coming from and what you are saying instead of trying to guess if they are.
Begin Couples Counseling in Charlotte, NC
No relationship is perfect, and there are many ways one can work to improve communication in their relationship. Here at Inward Counseling, we are happy to offer support in makings sure you are heard in your relationship. You can start your therapy journey with your team of caring therapists by following these simple steps:
Reach out to us to get more information about how you can start.
Meet with a caring therapist
Start receiving the support your relationship deserves
Other Services Offered With Inward Counseling
Couples therapy isn’t the only service our team offers. We know that you may experience more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why Inward Counseling is happy to also offer therapy for depression, anxiety, family, and EMDR. We also offer trauma therapy and Christian counseling. Visit our blog or about page to learn more today.