Top 5 Healthy relationship habits for a stronger relationship
Written By Victoria Obaniyi
Rebecca Sidoti, LCSW
OCD & Anxiety
Ketamine Therapist
VR Therapist
Caroline Goodhines
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Molly Weaver
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Denise Spivey
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Have you ever caught yourself comparing your relationship to those seemingly joyful and connected couples, wondering what they might be doing differently? While no relationship is without its ups and downs, some couples manage to thrive despite the challenges. So, what’s their secret? The reality is that lasting happiness in a relationship doesn’t just happen—it’s the result of intentional, healthy relationship habits. The strongest couples actively nurture their bond and invest in keeping their love alive.
Healthy relationship habits give couples an opportunity to strengthen their respect, trust, security & attachment to each other, fostering a more fulfilling partnership. Here, we’ll discuss some essential habits to cultivate, specially when you’re in your first relationship or a new relationship. Let’s explore some healthy habits for a successful relationship.
1. Open & Clear Communication
Open communication can clear up so many misunderstandings and make a situation so much easier to deal with. Communicating your feelings is one of the most important factors in a good relationship. Let your partner know what you’re feeling instead of relying on them to read your mind. A healthy relationship requires the vulnerability to be clear about feelings.
2. Listen Intentionally
In order to be thoughtful and make your partner feel heard and understood is to take a second and really listen to what they say whether it’s good or bad. Notice the little things that they say, and you will be surprised at how much you learn about your partner.
Just from little conversations throughout the day, you learn little things like their favorite food, music and hobbies to more serious things like life goals, fears, and insecurities.
3. Speak Your Partner’s Love Language
Over the past couple of years, love languages have become a hot topic in pop culture.
- Quality Time
- Physical Touch
- Acts of Service
- Words of affirmation
- Gift Giving
Our personal love language and how we express love to other people is important. It’s also important to make sure your partner feels that love and appreciation. If your partner isn’t receiving that message, try exploring other methods. If your love language is “acts of service” but your partner’s love language is “quality time” try to take them out once in a while, watch tv together, go on walks together, etc. Your partner will feel seen by you and it will set a good dynamic for a healthy relationship.
4. Have Hard Conversations
Having hard conversations and communicating go hand in hand. However, hard conversations relate to more serious topics and any other conversations most would regard as taboo and controversial. These conversations lay out non-negotiables and boundaries for a healthy relationship. It can also give you insight to you and your partner’s personalities and core values.
- Family
- Religion
- Politics
- Sex
- Finances
When you are going to be emotionally connected with someone and sharing half of your life, these topics are very important to bring up sooner rather than later. This is to keep you from wasting each other’s time, preventing future situations and to affirm yourself that you’re with the right person. Having hard conversations can also help both of you grow closer as a healthy relationship unit.
5. Go To Therapy
Couples therapy is one of the most popular ways for couples to talk about their issues if they can’t solve certain problems themselves. It focuses on getting couples to address and resolve conflicts and to improve communication in the unit through guided discussions.
Sometimes you need a mediator for problems that may arise in your relationship. Couples therapy is a great way to go about serious issues. It could help you understand your partner’s perspective along with your perspective and could help solve your problems in the long run. Both partners need to participate in couples therapy for it to work for a healthy relationship unit to come out.
Sometimes you might not want couples therapy because you might feel like you need help with personal issues. Individual therapy is a great way to improve your relationship if you feel like certain personal issues are holding you back from being the best you can be to have a healthy relationship.
Final Thoughts on healthy relationships
These are just a couple of tips for a happy healthy relationship. Be there for each other through the good times, the bad times and remember that it’s the little things that make a big difference. Happy Dating!
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Art can be a helpful support tool in therapy to help with communication, expression, mindfulness & grounding.
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CBT is present-focused, making it especially effective for those seeking tangible results.
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In EFT sessions, the therapist and client work together & the therapist assists clients in deciphering their emotions rather than imposing interpretations.
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Through exposure therapy, our therapists will introduce you to the very things that trigger your fear.
Where are you located? I need a therapist near me
We are fully online, which means that your therapy sessions will be help via video call on our HIPAA compliant Platform. Anyone in New Jersey can access our therapy services
How do I get started as a new client?
New Clients can reach out to us directly via call, text or email here:
Does my insurance cover my visits?
We provide”Courtesy Billing” for clients who are using the Out-of-network insurance benefits.
Our Insurance Page might answer your questions about your insurance information, cost and OON coverage.
What are out-of-network benefits?
Visits our FAQ About Insurance to learn more about OON coverage for mental health services. We can also check your benefits for you. When using OON benefits, patients typically pay the full cost of the treatment upfront and then file a claim with their insurance company for reimbursement.
Is Online Therapy As Effective As In-Person Therapy?
Online therapy is essentially face-to-face counseling, just conducted remotely. Studies show that tele-therapy is as effective as traditional counseling. Professional organizations and state governments recognize its benefits and have set regulations for it. However, like any therapy, its success in achieving your goals isn’t guaranteed. It’s important to discuss with your therapist whether tele-therapy is working for you.
How Should I Prepare for My First Session?
Showing up is all that you need to do! But if you really want to get the most out of session, it could help to take some time to think about what you want from therapy. It helps to write down your goals, questions you have or things that you feel are important to share.
Do you offer traditional talk therapy?
of course! though we have some unconventional therapy approaches, we are rooted in evidenced based practices. Talk therapy is a major player in the therapy room! See What we Treat and Integrative Services for more information
Is Virtual Counseling Suitable for Everyone?
Online therapy might not be as effective for individuals with chronic suicidal thoughts, severe trauma, significant mental health history, or those recently in intensive care. Such cases often benefit more from traditional, in-person counseling. We’ll help you decide if our online services are right for you during your intake and evaluation.
Can I Change Therapists If I'm Not Happy?
Yes, you can switch therapists to another provider within the practice, or we can provide you a referral if preferred. We want to ensure that your time and effort are well spent, and that you are getting the relief you need, that’s why we work collaboratively with each other in the practice, as well as outside therapists who we know and trust.
How Do I Know If Therapy Is Helping?
You should feel like you’re making progress. Signs it’s working include:
- Feeling comfortable talking to your therapist
- Your therapist respects boundaries
- You’re moving towards your goals
- You feel listened to
You’re doing better in life - Your self-esteem is getting better
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask that clients provide at least 24 hours notice in the event that they need to cancel to avoid the 50% cancellation fee. we understand that life happens and do our best to be flexible & reschedule.
What Geographic Areas Are Served?
Currently, we serve clients in New Jersey and are expanding to other states as telehealth laws evolve. While telehealth offers the convenience of attending sessions from anywhere, state laws require clients to be in-state during their session.
Is Online Therapy Easy to Use for Non-Tech-Savvy People?
Yes, it’s pretty simple to access sessions. You’ll need basic internet skills, such as opening and visiting the patient link sent to you via email. It’s similar to video chatting like Facetime or Zoom. We can also walk you through it on the phone the first time to ensure a strong connection
What Questions Should I Ask My New Therapist?
Feel free to ask anything. Some good questions are:
- How often will we meet?
- What do you specialize in?
- What experience do you have with my issue?
- What outcomes can I expect?
- How will I know I’m progressing?
- How long do you usually work with clients?
- How will we set my treatment goals?
What is the difference between associate therapists & fully licensed therapists?
Our Qualifications:
Our founder, Rebecca Sidoti, is a highly qualified, state-licensed therapist and supervisor with extensive training in anxiety related disorders and innovative treatment such as Ketamine Therapy. Mind by Design Counseling adheres to standards set by the our governing counseling boards.
To see each providers credentials, training and licenses, visit our “Meet the Therapists” Page to learn more.
- LAC/LSW are therapists who may practice clinical work under the supervision of a fully licensed therapist.
- LPC/LCSW are therapists who have completed the necessary clinical hours post-graduation under supervision and can practice clinical work independently.
Can Anyone Benefit from Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy?
KAP has shown promise for individuals with treatment-resistant depression and certain anxiety disorders. However, its efficacy can vary from person to person.
What Can Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Help to Treat??
Ketamine has shown promise in treating various mental health conditions, including PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Phobias and OCD. As Ketamine therapy providers, we offer this service to help clients break cycles of thinking traps that lead to compulsive behaviors.
Is KAP the same as Ketamine infusions?
KAP is a therapeutic approach that combines the use of ketamine with psychotherapy. Our Process of providing ketamine assisted psychotherapy is different from ketamine infusions, which are typically administered without the accompanying psychotherapy. Our partnership with Journey Clinical provides patients with lozenges for self-administering their Ketamine dose prescribed by the Journey Clinical provider.
Is Ketamine Addictive?
While ketamine has the potential for misuse, when used in a controlled medical setting for therapeutic purposes, the risk of addiction is considered low according to medical researchers
What Neurotransmitters are effected by Ketamine?
Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain, which can lead to an increase in the release of certain neurotransmitters. This can result in rapid antidepressant effects
How does ketamine compare to other psychedelic medicines?
Ketamine is unique in its rapid antidepressant effects and mechanism of action. Other psychedelics, like psilocybin, have different mechanisms and therapeutic potentials.
How often would KAP be needed?
The frequency of KAP sessions would depend on the individual’s response to treatment and the medical provider’s recommendations.
What medical conditions might disqualify someone from KAP?
Certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled hypertension or a history of psychosis, might be contraindications for KAP. See Our “Safety Measures” page for more information about the precautions that the medical team adheres to, along with other safety measure sin place.
How many ketamine treatment sessions do clients need for KAP?
The number of sessions can vary based on individual needs and the specific protocol followed by the provider. For Full details, visit the “Our Process” page. Generally 2-3 sessions are held prior to a dosing session, and then integration sessions are held after a dosing session. Depending on your treatment plan, there may be more or less number of sessions