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Discover effective couples therapy exercises to improve communication, build trust, and strengthen your relationship step by step.

Learn how emotional and physical intimacy work together to strengthen relationships. Discover practical strategies for building deeper connection with your partner.

Explore how military couples can strengthen their bond and navigate identity shifts during the transition to everyday life through communication and support.

Explore how empathy can heal resentment in relationships, fostering connection and trust through understanding and open communication.

Establishing a shared parenting vision fosters alignment and strengthens co-parenting, guiding families through values, goals, and effective communication.

Discover 10 practical exercises that help couples improve communication, deepen intimacy, and strengthen trust in everyday life.

Discover practical tips on how to improve communication in a relationship. Strengthen trust, resolve conflicts, and build a deeper connection.

Explore the benefits of short vs. standard therapy sessions for couples, offering flexibility and focus on relationship improvement.

Explore the varied costs of couples therapy, from traditional sessions to affordable online options, and learn how to find support that fits your budget.

Learn effective strategies to enhance emotional connection in virtual therapy sessions and maintain intimacy between appointments.

Rebuilding trust after betrayal in marriage takes commitment, honesty, and clear communication from both partners. Learn essential steps to heal.

Learn the signs that indicate your relationship may need professional help and how seeking guidance can strengthen your bond.

Explore effective trust-building exercises for couples, including communication techniques, shared goals, and daily practices to strengthen your relationship.

Enhance your relationship through active listening techniques that foster understanding, reduce conflict, and strengthen emotional bonds.

Learn how to manage expectations and communication in long-distance relationships to strengthen your bond and avoid common pitfalls.

Explore how transparency fosters trust in relationships through honest communication, emotional intimacy, and accountability.

Explore expert-backed strategies to improve communication, rebuild trust, and resolve conflicts in relationships for lasting connection.

Couples therapy equips parents with tools for better communication, task delegation, and time management, fostering a harmonious family life.

Explore effective communication strategies to resolve conflicts and strengthen relationships through active listening, structured dialogue, and more.

Learn how to effectively start couples therapy with clear goals, understanding patterns, and choosing the right support for your relationship.

Regular check-ups on communication, trust, and intimacy can strengthen your relationship and foster deeper connections between partners.

Couples can recover from burnout through relaxation techniques, open communication, and shared activities that rebuild intimacy and trust.

Explore how shared goals can enhance communication in relationships, fostering trust, collaboration, and greater satisfaction between partners.

Learn the difference between healthy boundaries and controlling behavior in relationships, and how to protect emotional connection without overstepping. This guide explores how to set respectful limits, communicate needs clearly, and build trust without resorting to control.

Learn how to identify and address power imbalances in relationships to foster mutual respect, trust, and emotional connection.

Every couple hits bumps in communication, but it’s often the quiet patterns like shutting down, snapping, or assuming the worst, that create the most distance. In this blog, we explore five of the most common communication traps couples fall into, from criticism and defensiveness to avoiding conflict altogether. More importantly, you’ll learn how to break these patterns with simple, effective shifts that foster connection, not disconnection.

Feeling physically distant from your partner? You’re not alone. Intimacy often fades during stress, conflict, or even everyday busyness—but it can be rebuilt. This guide walks you through why disconnection happens and how to gently reconnect through emotional closeness, playful moments, low-pressure touch, and honest conversations. Learn practical ways to move at your own pace and get support if needed.

Burnout doesn’t just affect your day-to-day — it can quietly create distance in your relationship, too. When your emotional tank is running on empty, it’s easy to feel disconnected, irritable, or like you’ve got nothing left to give. This blog explores how emotional burnout shows up in subtle ways and offers simple, caring strategies to help you protect your relationship during tough times.

Resentment rarely starts with a blow-up. It builds in the quiet moments, in the ones where you feel dismissed, misunderstood, or like you're carrying more than your share. Left unspoken, that weight can slowly shift the feel of a relationship. But when you notice the signs early and respond with care, there’s a real chance to soften the tension and find your way back to each other.

When you and your partner want different things—whether it’s space vs. closeness or quiet vs. conversation—it can feel like you’re growing apart. But having different needs doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed. This blog offers expert-backed strategies for navigating those differences without losing connection. Learn how to communicate clearly, compromise without self-abandonment, create a “bridge plan” for tough moments, and recognize when outside support can help you move forward together.

Wondering if your relationship is going through a rough patch or something more serious? This article breaks down five signs that suggest your relationship still has a strong foundation—like shared values, emotional effort, and a vision for the future—and how to reconnect when things feel off. It also covers the signs that may point to deeper issues and offers practical steps to rebuild connection with curiosity, intention, and support. If you're feeling stuck or uncertain, this is a grounded and hopeful guide for finding clarity and moving forward—together.

Struggling to connect with your partner? Discover the emotional and psychological reasons communication can feel so hard—and what you can do to get back on the same page.

Meta Description: Learn how to fix lack of communication in a relationship with practical tips - improve listening, rebuild trust, and spark meaningful connection.

Learn what open communication in a relationship looks like and why it's essential. Get practical tips on how to open communication and be honest in partnerships.

Learn effective ways to apologize without saying sorry by focusing on empathy, meaningful gestures, and gain trust in relationships.

Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, but it doesn’t have to create distance. From everyday disagreements to deeper emotional struggles, how you handle conflict can strengthen or weaken your bond. This guide explores the causes of relationship conflict, practical ways to resolve it, and how coaching can help break unhealthy patterns. With the right approach, conflict can bring you closer instead of pushing you apart.

How much conflict is normal in a relationship? Disagreements happen, but when do they become harmful? Learn the difference between healthy vs. unhealthy conflict, how to navigate disagreements, and practical tips for strengthening your bond through open communication.

Conflict is a natural part of any relationship, but how you handle it makes all the difference. This blog breaks down common conflict styles—volatile, conflict-avoiding, and hostile-detached—and offers tips to navigate them with empathy and understanding. Learn how to improve communication, resolve disagreements constructively, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

Healthy relationships don’t just happen—they’re built with intention, effort, and love. In “How to Improve Your Relationship: 10 Things to Work On,” we explore practical, expert-backed strategies to strengthen your bond and bring more joy to your partnership. From improving communication and building trust to managing stress as a team and celebrating milestones, this guide highlights actionable steps for creating a thriving, long-term relationship. Whether you’re reconnecting or simply maintaining what you already have, these tips will help you nurture emotional closeness, handle challenges with patience, and grow together. Ready to take your relationship to the next level? Let’s get to work!

What makes a relationship truly great? In a world filled with challenges, from busy schedules to everyday stress, thriving in a partnership requires effort, intention, and mutual support. This blog explores the foundational qualities of healthy relationships, such as trust, love, communication, respect, and commitment, and dives into actionable insights to help couples navigate common challenges like miscommunication, emotional disconnect, and boundary conflicts. With expert advice and practical tips, learn how to strengthen your connection, support each other’s growth, and create a bond that not only survives but thrives. Whether you’re in a new relationship or a long-term partnership, this article offers the tools to help your love grow deeper and stronger over time.

Have you considered what not to say during your couples therapy session? Read these tips from our experts.

Getting great doesn’t happen overnight, and the same goes for relationships. It takes time and effort, and basically, a really good workout regime. Ask yourself how have you been approaching your relationships? Have you been a fan on the bleachers? Or are you out there bringing your A-game? Are you practicing, committing, and showing up how you want to be? Or is there somewhere that could use some more of your attention and focus?

Infusing play in your relationships is like breathing life into it - like breathing air into a deflated balloon, a good dose of play can revive any stale relationship. It’s no wonder that that Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, compares play to oxygen - we don’t realize how important it is, until we don’t have it. Play activates the executive functioning in our brain in a way that invites vitality, curiosity, innovation, problem solving - plus it’s FUN.

Are you falling out of love or just becoming comfortable in your relationship? These are the signs and expert tips to know.

How do you know if you’re in a high-conflict relationship? These are the 5 signs that you are a high-conflict couple plus how to address the challenges.

Learn how to build emotional intimacy in your relationship with tips from Ritual’s experts including how to ignite passion and strengthen your bond.

How do you know it's time to get a divorce? These are the 5 signs it's time for a divorce plus how to approach discussing divorce with your partner and how to avoid divorce.

Healthy disagreements, amicable resolutions, and parenting discussions. This is everything you need to know about conflict resolution in your relationship.

There is so much information available about spotting a toxic partner. However, here’s how to know if you’re the toxic one in the relationship.

How do you know when your relationship is in trouble? These are the 10 tell-tale signs from our experts.

How do you know if you’re getting the most out of your couples counseling, marriage counseling, or relationship guidance sessions? These are Ritual’s top 10 tips.

Self-awareness in a relationship is not always as easy as it may seem! Our experts have 10 tips to help you improve and practice self-awareness in your relationship.

Do you know your attachment style in a relationship? Identify yours and learn how it impacts relationships.

Have you ever considered adding a relationship reboot to your list of resolutions? These are our expert tips for strengthening your relationship in 2024.

The word “but” sneaks into many of our sentences, sending messages of dismissal and sabotaging our efforts at effective communication. You'd be surprised to know what word you can use instead to form a team with your partner, and change how you communicate around differences and fears.

Do you know the relationship warning signs? These are the obvious, and more subtle, relationship red flags that you should keep an eye out for over the holidays.

Wondering if your relationship can survive cheating? Read these 6 tips for moving forward after infidelity.

Master communication skills for couples with the power of I-statements - express feelings clearly, build empathy, and strengthen your relationship.

Love is often seen as the absence of boundaries, but is that really what makes for a healthy relationship? Here we explore why boundaries are especially important for couples and how they can make your connection stronger.

Resentment, a potent yet silent force, has the ability to undermine the very core of a romantic relationship. It is crucial to identify the telltale signs of this emotion and take decisive action to address it. Read on for strategies of letting go and moving on stronger.

Marriage is a beautiful journey, but it's no secret that even the strongest bonds face turbulent times. Here, we uncover the hidden reasons behind failing relationships and arm you with actionable strategies to steer your marriage away from destruction and towards enduring happiness.

How do you know if you need relationship help? These are the 10 signs you and your partner should speak with an expert.

Navigating differences in parenting styles between partners is a common challenge. Unique backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences come into play, leading to conflicts in raising children together. This crucial topic can cause even easygoing couples to feel serious distress. Let's explore effective strategies to cultivate a harmonious parenting dynamic.

Managing relationship conflicts can be tough, especially when arguments and unresolved issues accumulate. The strain of constant fighting is familiar to many couples. While not all problems have solutions, they don't have to severely strain your connection. Discover effective ways to address differences and change how you perceive conflicts.

Attending your first relationship guidance session can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to! Here are 10 tips to help you prepare for your first couples therapy/relationship guidance session.

Much attention is given to sex in our relationship. So we often use sex as the relationship health barometer. Are we having it? Is it good? Are we having it enough? If I don’t want it, is that normal? Then we place values on the answers to these questions - determining and interpreting things about ourselves, our partner and our relationship - based on sex. But here’s the thing, the way we understand sex, is actually not personal.

Routine, security, and stability are all virtues of a long term relationship. The down side of these wonderful gains can sometimes be dullness, numbness, and stagnation. B o r i n g. We believe that long term relationships can be absolutely thrilling, with endless possibilities, adventures, and excitement.

In our relationships we strive for “picture-perfect” balance, harmony. And so we avoid conflict - which, according to all the data and science, is actually our sweet spot for growth as a couple. We reject the notion that conflict is bad, and invite people to step in with curiosity, adaptability, and vulnerability instead.

We’ve inherited so many things from our family which influence our core beliefs, behaviors, and our relationships - big time. But unlike our genes, becoming aware of our core beliefs and how they influence our behavior can help us reflect on whether they serve or limit us. And then we can choose to make a change.

Professionally, we strive for growth and opportunity. We read leadership books and listen to all the podcasts. We hire business coaches, and run side gigs galore. We want to climb the ladder, and we’re willing to learn, work overtime, dedicate our weekends, and prioritize work over our personal lives for the sake of our professional future. But, do we invest as much in our relational future?

Have you ever shared a challenge with your partner and been met with a “don’t worry, you’re great.” While our partner may mean to support us or cheer us up, this response can often end up making us feel alone and unseen. Here’s a Ritual reframe on what actually happens in those moments, and how we can turn them into deeply intimate moments of growth, between you and your partner, and you and you.

Saying no isn’t bad - it’s an important skill in every relationship Relationships require a lot from us, but they don’t require us to lose ourselves in them. How can we stay close to each other while still being true to ourselves? This is where people struggle most so often stuck in the belief that boundaries are meant to keep *the bad stuff* out, why do we need to put up boundaries with our loved ones? But we do. And here’s why.