As a therapist, one area of focus for my practice is individual relationship therapy. This type of therapy differs a bit from couples counseling, in that it is about you and your feelings, role, etc. in the relationship. Our goal working together is to make sure that you are feeling your best, whether you’re single, dating, married, or divorced.
We typically talk about therapy in terms of diagnoses. For example, we may seek out a therapist when we have anxiety. Yet, one could easily argue that our relationships are a tremendous component of our mental health, and that our own emotions and feelings within relationships should be considered a priority and worthy of seeking out a therapist.
How Our Relationships (or Lack Thereof) Determine and Affect Mental Health
Romantic relationships have a unique impact on emotional well-being. Unlike friendships or work connections, these relationships often involve deep intimacy, shared living arrangements, long-term commitments, and expectations of trust and loyalty. Because of this, they can be both a source of stability and one of the greatest sources of stress.
When a romantic relationship is healthy and supportive, it provides comfort, security, and resilience. In fact, one could argue that a good relationship is an incredible benefit to mental health. When you have the support of someone close to you – someone you can lean on – it becomes easier to feel like you can take on stress and that your experiences are not necessarily defining your future.
Yet every relationship is supportive, not every challenge is temporary, and not everyone even in a relationship or able to make them fulfilling.
For those in relationships, there are times when romantic relationships create sustained mental health struggles. Some examples include:
- Long-term conflict that creates chronic stress or emotional exhaustion
- Mismatched communication styles that lead to repeated misunderstandings
- Infidelity, betrayal, or secrecy that undermines trust
- Emotional neglect, where one or both partners feel unseen or unsupported
- Cycles of separation and reconciliation that create instability and insecurity
Each of these experiences has a significant effect on mood, self-esteem, and overall mental health. For some, the relationship itself may be the main stressor. For others, struggles outside the relationship – such as work, health, or family obligations – spill into the partnership, creating tension that affects both individuals.
Many others are single or dating. They’re finding that their experience in relationships is itself a struggle:
- Maybe they have unresolved trauma.
- Maybe they find that they’re struggling to match with the right partner.
- Maybe they don’t understand relationships or others.
Some people also simply struggle with being single or unmarried. There is a theory that we have to love being single and love ourselves before we can find ourselves in happy relationships, and there are many reasons to believe there is truth to this.
In any situation, those that are struggling with relationships are far more at risk for anxiety, stress, depression, and poor mental health, while those in happy relationships are often better able to address these issues.
The Value of Therapy for Relationship Health
Therapy does not always mean couples counseling. Individual therapy for relationship health allows you to examine your experiences and emotions within your partnership, regardless of whether your partner is involved in therapy.
Some areas therapy can address include:
- Understanding attachment styles and how they affect intimacy and trust
- Identifying recurring patterns in past or present relationships
- Learning tools to communicate needs more clearly and effectively
- Developing healthier boundaries, especially if codependency or control is present
- Clarifying personal goals, whether that means strengthening a relationship or deciding if it is sustainable
- Learning how to find partners that really match who we are
- Addressing issues that occur on dates and in the dating pool
- Navigating the many, many challenges associated with online dating
This type of work helps you see your romantic relationship not as separate from your mental health, but as directly connected to it.
Since sometimes we have our own issues (trauma, anxiety, etc) that may affect relationships as well, seeing a therapist becomes even more beneficial.
Building Stronger Romantic Connections for Better Emotional Well-Being
Relationships are directly connected to our mental health. It doesn’t matter if you’re single or married – if you’re not feeling your best in a relationship, or you’re not able to have the relationships you want, then you are more likely to struggle.
Seeing a therapist can help. My name is Kavita and I’m a therapist in Phoenix that is here and ready to support your mental health. Please contact me today to get started.
