NAVIGATING RELATIONSHIPS

Humans are social beings. We’re capable of maintaining many meaningful relationships at a time. In short, we’re hardwired for connection! During the course of a lifetime, we have many different types of relationships – partners, parents, children, friends, teachers, coworkers, neighbors – that continue to evolve over time.

At their core, relationships fulfill our basic needs for love, friendship, touch, intimacy, and sex. People often make the mistake of assuming that one person can fulfill all these needs. In reality, no one is capable of this – that’s why we seek different types of connection in different relationships!

The health of our relationships has the potential to fuel or drain us, making this area of primary food pivotal to our overall well-being. While relationships can be a source of joy and comfort, they can also be challenging to navigate. Our unique perspectives, lifestyles, values, priorities, and even attachment styles can lead to miscommunication and hurt feelings.

It’s no wonder that an entire industry has evolved to support us in maintaining the health of our relationships. From therapeutic approaches to self-help books, blogs, and apps, more resources than ever are available to support us in navigating the peaks and valleys of our relationships.

While many experts and approaches speak directly to romantic relationships, their messages and strategies can be applied to all relationships. Read on to learn more about a few prominent approaches and consider how you might leverage these approaches to improve the health and happiness of you, your clients, and your loved ones.