Communicating Your Needs in a Relationship
By: Margie Frisco, MA, LPC
Relationships are hard! They require more energy than you would think. Many times, communication in a relationship is complicated.
There can be many reasons why communication gets hard in relationships.
Fear of Rejection
Not Knowing Needs
Assuming They Know
Infidelity
Feeling Disconnected with Your Partner
Having a conversation can be easier said than done. Recognizing that confronting or starting a conversation can be intimidating is essential. Allow yourself some grace and compassion because you are trying to reach out to your partner.
How to Communicate in a Relationship
There are several factors that contribute to healthy communication within a relationship. Tone and inflection can often be a significant factor in communication. For example, if you imagine saying hello calmly versus a stereotypical moody teen saying hello with an eye roll, those are two different things.
Also, body language can heavily impact communication. Making sure your body language is open can be helpful. Open body language is:
Direct, soft eye contact
Relaxed body, no crossing of arms
Directly facing the person
Paying attention to facial expressions
Furthermore, how do you start a conversation when you think it could be full of emotions? Make sure to ask your partner if they are available for the conversation. Asking allows your partner to express if they can be the support you are looking for.
When to Communicate in a Relationship
Just as important to consider is when to communicate in a relationship. Many times, things can bother us. If we think back on each day, there can be different levels of concerts, like stubbing your toe, versus something more serious, like your partner hurting your feelings.
There are a few ways to gauge if an issue requires communication. As mentioned before, the size of the problem can be a determining factor. For instance, if the feeling is on a bigger scale like finding out a partner has cheated or hurt your feelings, this can be a sign that communication is needed.
Another way to recognize communication is needed is if something bothers us for a long time. Some people will use the rule of 72 hours. This means if the issue is still bothering you 72 hours later, that is a sign that it is time to talk. Often, a topic will come up if we feel there is no actual resolution. So, if it comes up often, there’s another sign.
In Conclusion
Starting a conversation can be challenging. There are many things to consider. Taking time to truly see how you feel and what you want to say is extremely important.
Communication can genuinely be difficult in relationships. The skills listed above can help improve communication in your relationship. Call today to make an appointment to learn more about communication in your relationship.
Begin Counseling at Our Center in Katy, TX!
If you would like more help with communicating in a relationship, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! To begin counseling in Katy Texas, follow these three steps:
Contact our office to set up an appointment about healthy communication in a relationship.
Meet with one of our understanding therapists
Discover ways to communicate in a healthy way.
Other Therapy Services We Offer:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. To learn more about our therapists and counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!