Creating a fulfilling and intimate relationship

Many of us choose to share our lives with another person who is our partner through either the whole or a significant part of our life. A healthy relationship is where each person in a couple can be open and share their authentic needs with each other. In this way they get their needs met at least the majority of the time.

1. Sometimes this process gets interrupted and our relationship becomes turbulent, painful or a struggle. Some examples of what can cause this are:
2. Pressures outside the relationship keeping people apart such as work commitments;
3. Relationships outside the marriage that can affect the couple such as friends, family and children;
4. Not understanding or knowing how to communicate and get each other’s needs met within the relationship; and
5. Fear of intimacy due to past experiences.