It is general advice to say it’s important to ‘make time to talk’, but I think we can sometimes underestimate the positive effect having that time can have on our relationships.

The placebo effect

When clients start coming to therapy, I have noticed that very often in just the first few sessions, they will tell me that things in their relationship have been getting better, they are arguing less, talking more and enjoying each other’s company again.

There certainly is a strange placebo effect that takes place, because even though not much has changed, just making the time to talk about your relationship can calm things down and create a peace and newfound security with each other. Having space to talk means you will be able to sort out your issues; so anxieties decrease and your relationship improves.

Prevention is better than cure

If you are talking about things in your relationship regularly, they don’t have a chance to build up and create resentments and disconnection between you. This way you can head off any issues early on, before they become big problems further down the line.

Make an appointment to talk

When clients end their therapy with me, I often suggest they keep that appointment time slot for their relationship to keep talking and the added bonus is that now they get the money they would have paid for their session to spend on dinner and drinks!

Communication exercises

If you struggle to communicate with each other sometimes, take a look at my 3 communication tips to try with your partner for simple exercises you can try.