Relationships

Relationships add meaning and emotional value to our existence. Each of us has a unique set of relationships that we hold dear, including those with our parents, siblings, partners, friends, and even colleagues.

However, all relationships come with challenges and it’s important to work through them if we want to manage and sustain healthy relationships.

Challenges Faced in Relationships

While every relationship is unique, several challenges may be faced by all of us in our relationships at some point. Some of these issues deal with the following aspects:

Communication

Open, honest, and effective communication is vital to relationship health. Communicating positive sentiments (appreciation, love, praise etc.), as well as negative sentiments (discomfort, hurt, disagreements etc.), fosters intimacy and connection. 

More often than not, people don't communicate uncomfortable and messy feelings simply as a way to keep the peace. But in the longer run, harbouring negative feelings instead of openly resolving them can lead to feelings of resentment and mistrust.

Boundaries

Boundaries are an important part of every relationship. They define acceptable limits of behaviour and what each person in a relationship is comfortable with. It’s very easy to violate other people’s boundaries, especially in toxic or abusive relationships. In fact, people may even overlook their own boundaries just to please someone else in a relationship.

Distance

Distance is an inevitable part of our relationships and can be emotional or physical. Physical distance can occur when someone moves to a different place and isn’t easily accessible (children moving out of their parents’ house, long-distance relationships, friends moving away etc.). Emotional distance can occur when people lose the level of emotional attachment they once shared. Distance of any kind can evoke many painful and complicated feelings.

Growth

As human beings, we’re in a continuous process of evolving and changing. This is also true of relationships. Sometimes, we may change in more ways than the people we share a relationship with. This can be a source of conflict when those people aren’t ready to accept our growth. 

Power Imbalance

Relationships can be subject to power imbalances when one side is more dominant than the other. This is especially true of abusive relationships, and relationships where one side doesn’t respect the other’s boundaries. Power imbalances can result in fear, feelings of inferiority, and resentment in the person who is on the weaker end of the relationship.

Codependency

Codependency is an unhealthy feature of relationships where either or both agents are unable to define themselves outside of the relationship. Codependency involves a highly unhealthy attachment to someone, to the extent that you’re willing to violate your own boundaries and desires just to make the other person happy. It leaves people with no sense of individuality and mostly stems from low self-esteem.

These challenges can arise in short and long-term relationships, and significantly impact their health and longevity. While no relationship is perfect, these issues need to be addressed at the onset. A healthy relationship is always a work in progress.

We Can Help

Located at 206 Ontario Street Stratford, we are local to Tavistock, New Hamburg, and the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Our clinicians also offer remote therapy across Ontario so that you can access the support you need - no matter where you are!

To get started you can fill out a contact form, call (226) 215-4244, or book an appointment online with one of our counsellors by clicking below.

We’re looking forward to supporting you!