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Relationships are complex, let alone when you work together and are under the constant scrutiny of media. We all are familiar with the news of duke and duchess of Sussex leaving their royal family duties, but we are unaware of their reasons to do so.

Just like common families, the royal family also goes through disputes and that can a cause rift between the family. In cases of utmost trouble, cutting family ties seems the only possible and helpful. While taking a breather can be helpful, it can also be damaging.

While the situation might seem helpless, you can reconnect and improve the relationships. A combination of maintaining a little distance for personal space and taking one step at a time to improve relationships is a good choice.

Mending broken relationship

Before going onto rebuild the relationship, it is important to go back to the root cause of the problem and understanding what exactly happened and why. Try to understand the situation from the other person’s perspective and be empathetic.

Be ready to forgive

Often, a lot of time no one is wrong in a dispute. You need to ask yourself “do you want to be right or mend your relationship?”, you have to decide if you want to stick to your gun or accept the fact that this you will never agree upon. If you choose to accept the difference and forgive one another, you’ll be able to let go of the resentment and take those steps to heal the relationship.

Keep reaching out

It may be difficult but you might have to take the first step to initiate contact. Do not directly reside to face-to-face contact as it can be very triggering, rather at first try to connect through methods that are less intrusive like emails, letters, and calls.

Start slow and meet in public

Just because you decided to meet does not mean that your relationship is okay now, it is an overwhelming process. Try and keep realistic expectations and go slow. Seeing your family in the household can be very triggering and might erupt some unexpected emotions like anger, resentment and sadness. Hence, prefer to meet in a public, like a coffee place, which is safe and offers a neutral environment.

Find a mediator

Sometimes you need a third person to help you in the healing process. This mediator could be a counselor, an impartial friend or relative. The mediator can help you communicate your feelings and opinions in a neutral environment and help you work through your feelings.

To learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli click here

Image courtesy Pixabay and Wikipedia

Depression can significantly impact all aspects of life, be it work, social, or close relationships. In the case of close relationships, depression can come in way of intimacy between you and your partner.

Now, couple therapy for depression is designed to help people with relationship distress and one depressed partner. Relationship distress very frequently influences the course of depression or could also be a reason of onset for depression, hence it is crucial to address any conflict and dissatisfaction within the couple.

Couples therapy for depression provides a confidential and safe space where you and your partner can explore issues that are affecting your relationship. The sessions in couple therapy for depression emphasize on emotional acceptance between partners and lessen their emotional reactivity to each other.

How does it work?

In order make the most out of the therapy sessions, you as a couple need to be committed to the process and attend all your session. Typically, the therapist will see both out you together for the first session. Then you will be asked to attend one session individually to get a clearer picture of how you are in the relationship. The proceeding session, you both have to attend together.

The therapist will discuss the number of sessions you can expect and when the therapy will end. A session lasts anywhere between 50 minutes to an hour. You may also be asked to do homework task between session to build on the work you are doing.

How is it going to help you and your partner?

Couples therapy for depression does not only focus on diminishing depression but also on improving the relationship quality. The therapist applies intervention that focuses on the exchange between the partners, healthy communication and problem-solving. Besides, the therapist also focuses on growing caring behaviour and reducing conflict between partners.

You will also learn how to manage your feelings of anxiety and stress, be more aware of your partner’s needs and feelings. These sessions will also help you better understand yourself and create self-awareness and communicate more openly and clearly to your partner. This will lead to increased confidence and trust in one another, reduced jealousy and an improved sexual relationship.

Attend couples therapy for depression if either you or your partner are going through depression causing distress in your relationship. It will help you achieve an overall stable family life.

To learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli click here

All pictures courtesy Pixabay

“Intimacy is the freedom and acceptance to be yourself with that “one” person!

Psychologist Dr. Prerna Kohli

People always confuse sex with intimacy.

Only Sex isn’t intimacy. But Intimacy can be sex! Sex is physical attraction/intercourse between two individuals and needs to have an emotional bond to be intimate. Unfortunately, sex doesn’t guarantee intimacy. Sex is a part of intimacy and intimacy can be physical, emotional, sometimes intellectual and spiritual too.

So, the question exists, “Are sex and intimacy two different things?” “Can you have one without the other? Or does one lead to another?” Not everyone has similar thoughts; there are a lot of different opinions about it.

Intimacy is the heart of Sex

In an Intimate relationship, we allow the other person to enter into our heart, mind, body, and soul. Being intimate with your partner requires you to be open and honest with him or her, and it is from this state of intimacy when one enters a sexual activity.

Sex, within a relationship, is the most intimate act. When a couple is making love there isn’t just a physical act but also a deep connection with your partner which is intimate.

Intimacy without Sex

Sex is not the only way in which people give and receive love, so although it is very important, it is not the only way to create or express intimacy. In cases of medical issues like a lady who has given birth & is yet to heal or a person has undergone any surgery may not have sex, but still have an intimate relationship with the partner.

Intimacy is getting a simple morning hug from your partner, a non-sexual touch, a cheek kiss, enjoying each other’s company, having meaningful talks, caring for each other, laughing together for stupidest reasons, praising and motivating your loved one. It may not have Sex all the time.

Sex without Intimacy

Sex without intimacy is like food without hunger. Rape is Sex, without consent, an act that is paid for (prostitution) or even a one night stand may not be intimate. It’s just physical act with no emotions attached. But there can be a conflict that there is nothing more intimate than two people uniting and offering sex, therefore connecting, even in the case of a one-night stand.

A marriage can be more successful when both Sex and Intimacy are present. But with no intimacy and only sex would lead to a troubled marriage.

To learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli click here

All images courtesy Pixabay