Communication is key in a relationship and no relationship can thrive without good communication. It is normal for partners to pass through difficulties in relationships but a healthy communication helps them deal with conflicts easily and create a strong partnership. Even if you think that you love and you’re your partner so well, it is hard to read their minds. The only way to have an understanding is to talk to each other. Clear communication eliminates anger, confusion and resentment. Couples need to come up with ways of communication their partners for them to have healthy relationships. In this article, we will focus on ways you can improve your communication as couple in order to have a healthy relationship. 

What Is A Healthy Communication?

Before we learn ways to improve couples communication, we first need to understand what a healthy communication is in order to know when your communication is unhealthy and needs improvement. Communication is between two people (sender and receiver. Additionally, it involves feedback from the receiver. A communication has four facets including, fact, self-revealing, relationship, and appeal. The receiver uses these facets to interpret the sender’s message. This means the receiver may interpret the message differently from the way the sender intended.  

The four facets can create a barrier to a healthy communication. To have a healthy communication, it is wise to clearly understand what your partner is trying to tell you; you may even ask for emphasis in order to know exactly what they mean. The fact is that what we hear is not always what the other person was trying to relay. A healthy communication requires you to take the original statement, interpret it using the four facets, focus on the actual fats to know whether you understand what your partner is trying to say. 

How to Improve Communication

Active Listening

Listening skills are important when it comes to communication. It is hard to have a healthy communication when your partner does not pay attention to what you are saying. If you want to have a meaningful communication in your marriage, give each other a listening ear. This way, you will understand what your partner is saying and be able to give a better response. 

Send a Clear Message

Don’t think that your partner can read your mind just because you have been together for a long time. Ensure to use assertive communication when sending a message for it to be clear. In case you feel that your partner has misunderstood your message, it is important to clarify win a non-confrontational manner. 

Pay attention to nonverbal behaviors

Nonverbal behaviors can communicate loudly than verbal communication and most people don’t know this. Carefully consider your nonverbal behaviors to avoid sending the unintended message. For instance negative body language like looking sideways when a person is talking to you shows you are not interested in a conversation. 

Use the “I Statement”

When dealing with a conflict or hard conversation, try to focus on your personal experience and the other person’s faults. Blaming your spouse in an argument makes the mater worse. Do not be defensive; rather own up to your mistakes and be ready for changes. For example, say “I don’t like it when you make decisions without informing me” rather than “you never involve me in your decisions”. The first statement shows your feelings towards your partner’s behavior while the latter shows blame game and accusations which can lead to unhealthy communication. 

Seek Couples Therapy

It reaches a point in a relationship when you feel like you can’t take it anymore and you even want to quit. You feel like your partner never understand you and every time you try to have a meaningful communication, you end up quarreling and not finding a solution.  It might be time for you to see professional help from marriage or couples counselors. Reach out to therapists near you get guidance on how to communicate effectively with your partner. If you live in or near Westchester you can access couples therapy near Westchester, NY to talk to experienced and professional counselors to help you improve your communication skills. 

In conclusion, communication is a major element in a relationship. Lack of healthy communication can destroy a relationship and that is why you should strive to improve your communication skills. Try to be an active listener in order to clearly understand what your partner is trying to communicate. Send a clear message and avoid negative body language to prevent sending unintended message. If you feel the misunderstanding is too much, seek professional help from qualified marriage counselors.