Marriage counseling Orlando often finds that couples start with a wildly misrepresented concept of the typical romantic relationship from the media. Love is typically portrayed as fun, effortless, and just “meant to be”, but marriage counselors are the first to tell you that healthy bonds require hard work. Yes, romantic relationships should include fun and joy- absolutely! Marriage counseling helps couples set more realistic expectations for their relationships and bridge the gap between what they fantasized about and what is actually happening. Mindfulness is one technique that marriage counselors teach to help clients feel secure in their romantic bonds.
When you are in a romantic bond, you feel the most vulnerable. Marriage counselors will tell you that you often feel a surge of desirable feelings, as well as extremely hard ones. A fulfilling relationship includes positive and negative feelings, unlike the media may have you think. A healthy bond relies on the choices you make to show up for your partner, to listen with an open heart, and to nurture your relationship on purpose.
Mindfulness is the nonjudgmental attention to the present moment, and it’s a skill that rocks for relationships. We live in an extremely busy world where the to-do list never ends. The constant pressure to accomplish tasks can repeatedly keep you from the present moment, probably harming your relationship. Instead, make an intentional effort to pay attention to your partner. To do this, be mindful of those potential moments for connection. When your partner kisses you, holds your hand, or makes a comment, see if you can simply slow down, and acknowledge what is happening or being said. Maybe you decide to reach out to your partner in a way
you normally wouldn’t or take a mindful minute to appreciate them. Notice what the sensations within your body feel like in these moments, including physical touch, thoughts, and emotion- fulling immersing yourself in what is happening in your experience right now. This will bring you closer to your partner.
What couples ultimately want is to feel closeness and connection. When you’re connected to your partner, you feel safe, enjoy being together, and have a general sense that this is a good relationship. In marriage counseling Orlando sessions, the goal often centers around how to foster a connection of safety and security. This can be done just by being there for
each other, which can then be used daily in your interactions together, no matter how small the moments are.
This requires a willingness to let go of being right. Being right is one of the main culprits of a couple's quarreling. Sometimes, we’d rather be right than anything else. This is where mindfulness comes in to guide you in following what really matters. Being aware of what comes up for you in the present moment will help illuminate your values. Take on the perspective that values (e.g. kindness, love, genuineness, consideration, family- orientedness, etc.) may guide your actions, rather than a rush of feelings. Feelings come and go like the weather, and they can take you to regrettable places sometimes.
You can start practicing mindfulness by learning techniques through marriage counseling Orlando, which might start as simply as taking a moment to breathe. Marriage counseling experts provide resources during sessions, such as online guided meditations you can do at home. You might also incorporate other strategies during your daily interactions that your marriage counseling Orlando sessions teach you which you can use while doing tasks, such as laundry, dishes, or making the bed.
Developing the ability to drop into mindfulness is a skill worth building for your relationship, and beyond. If you'd like to learn more, you can reach out to an Orlando Thrive Therapy relationship experts by calling 407-592-8997.
Heather Oller is the owner and founder of Orlando Thrive Therapy, Coaching, and Counseling. She is a licensed counselor and a family mediator who has over 23 years of dedicated work as a professional in the mental health field. Through her company's mission, she continues to pave the way for future therapists, and their clients, who want a higher quality of life....and who want to thrive, rather than just survive. You can contact Orlando Thrive Therapy at (407) 592-8997 for more information.