Top 5 Communication Techniques for a Healthier Relationship
Effective communication is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of daily life or working through significant challenges, how you communicate with your partner can make all the difference. Here are the top five communication techniques to help strengthen your relationship and foster deeper connection.
1. Active Listening
Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and then remembering what your partner has said. It goes beyond hearing words; it means being genuinely interested and engaged.
Tips for Active Listening:
- Gestures such as maintaining eye contact and nodding to show understanding.
- Avoid interrupting while your partner is speaking.
- Reflect back what you’ve heard..
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage deeper discussion.
2. Express Emotions in Non-blaming Way
Express your feelings and emotions without blaming your partner or sounding accusatory, which can prevent your partner from becoming defensive.
Examples of “I feel…” Statements:
- Instead of saying, “You never listen to me,” try, “I feel unheard when I’m not listened to.”
- Replace “You make me angry” with “I feel upset when this happens.”
3. Practice Empathy
Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of your partner. It’s about putting yourself in their shoes and seeing the situation from their perspective.
Ways to Practice Empathy:
- Validate your partner’s feelings by acknowledging their emotions.
- Show that you understand by relating to their experiences.
- Avoid judgement and remain open-minded during discussions.
- Sometimes being able to show your full attention and support is what your partner needs at the overwhelming moment.
4. Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice are critical components of effective communication. They can often convey more than words alone.
Tips for Positive Non-Verbal Communication:
- Maintain open and relaxed body language.
- Use appropriate facial expressions to match your words.
- Pay attention to your tone of voice to ensure it’s consistent with your message.
5. Timing Matters
Choosing the right time to discuss important issues can significantly impact the outcome of your conversation. Ensure both partners are in a good mental space to talk.
Strategies for Good Timing:
- Avoid discussing serious matters when one or both of you are tired, hungry, or stressed. Such as right after a difficult day at work!
- Schedule a specific time to talk if spontaneous discussions often lead to arguments.
- Ensure you have enough time to discuss the issue without feeling rushed.
Conclusion
I hope these five techniques have given you something to think about on how to incorporate them into your communication in the relationship. It is often easier said than done, and it can be difficult to start implementing them, and we are here to help!
Our therapist uses evidence based Gottman Therapy modality to support you and your partner to gain practical skills in communication, learn how to manage conflicts, build stronger friendships, and be able to identify ways to build dreams and achieve your goals in your family.
A typical couples/marriage counselling at Ashore Wellness will start with assessments to allow our therapist to get to know you, and identify key elements that’s causing issues in your relationship, followed by guiding you through the intervention techniques that you can take away and start applying in your interactions with each other.
Contact us today to find out more!
