Awareness Counseling Center

Research shows that having a successful marital or romantic relationship is beneficial to your emotional as well as physical health (Dept of Justice 2007).  It is the foundation of a healthy family life when marriage and children are involved and it is protection against emotional and physical abuse.  How do you know if your relationship is healthy?  Well there are some key elements that you should pay attention to prior to marriage as well as throughout your relationship.

• Maintaining a friendship
• Taking responsibility for your growth and behavior
• Managing conflict
• Practicing kindness, respect and nurturing
• Displaying commitment to your partner
• Recognizing and upholding shared values and purposes.

Take the Love Skills test by clicking here 

Now registering for couples for June 2010 group.  Time and place will be determined by size of the group registered.

If you or your partner are challenged in any of these areas here are 10 things you can do to have a healthy relationship.

1. Spend time with each other
2. Learn to negotiate conflict
3. Show respect for each other at all times
4. Learn about yourself first
5. Explore marital intimacy
6. Explore common interests
7. Create a spiritual connection
8. Improve communication skills
9. Look for the best in each other
10. Forgive each other

Following these tips may prove difficult for some couples.  For those couples sometimes it is best to get the help of a professional is working through the difficult issues of the relationship.  This can be done through marital or couple counseling, of if both are in agreement, a marriage education group is sometimes a good way to learn some skills that can help repair damaged relationships, or improve your relationship.  Marriage education groups are also helpful before you marry.  It is a proactive way to increase the probability that your relationship will survive the challenges that are natural to all relationships, no matter how well they start out.

Successful relationships is an intensive 6 hour couples group that seeks to help the couple work on some issues that may be problematic to all relationships.  It is a time for the couple to not only learn, but to demonstrate with each other the use of important skills.  It is interactive, with the couple working together doing activities, but some activities involve the group as a whole.  No couple is ever embarrassed, but all are supported because all are there to make their relationship better.  It is a great setting for those who are thinking of marrying their partner, as well as for those who have been with their partner for a long period of time.  Some of the subjects covered include

• Communication and conflict management.
• Money styles, attitude and management.
• The Biology of Love, and how to make it last.

This is an investment in your relationship and well worth it if you value your mate.  It is a great alternative to the one-one couple/marriage counseling.  However your insurance may not cover, but we would be happy to contact them on your behalf. 

If you would like more information please call Awareness Counseling Center.