A CHESTERFIELD relationship charity is calling on couples to make ‘relationships resolutions’ as client bookings soar.
Relate has seen a rise in the number of new clients that are seeking support since the beginning of the new year with counselling sessions rising by 50 per cent compared with December.
Lynn Tory, centre manager, said: “The first full working week in January is always a very busy time for us and the 50 per cent jump in client numbers we have already seen is an indicator of what’s to come.
“Last year saw a 116 per cent rise in calls to our national helpline number and the numbers of people accessing Relate this year looks to be higher still.”
This year the charity says we should be focusing on our relationships when we make resolutions.
Relate counsellor, Priscilla Sim, has five top relationship resolutions that couples are encouraged to try, to make 2013 a happier year for everyone:
Gratitude Lists
Make gratitude lists to remember what you like and appreciate about your partner.
Date Night
Try and make time for a date night once a week. Date night is just about the two of you as a couple. That means no kids, no friends, no family, just the two of you, just like it was when you first got together.
Regular Check Ups
Check in on your relationship and your partner regularly. Sit down and ask each other how you are doing and feeling.
Love Notes
Take a minute or two out of your day to send your partner a sweet text message letting them know you are thinking of them.
Quit The Blame Game
Turn the blame game around. Get away from what ‘they did’ and focus on what ‘I did’ and ‘what can I do’ to make this better? Anytime you hear yourself saying ‘You’ stop yourself and turn it around to ‘I’.
Priscilla says, “Lots of people will be making resolutions this time of year for how they can be fitter, healthier or more successful in their careers. It’s important to remember your relationships in working out how you can be happier – it’s relationships that we all rely on, in good times and bad, so we should be remembering them in our New Year’s resolutions.”
Relate’s Chief Executive, Ruth Sutherlandsays, “Relate isn’t just there for when relationships hit crisis point. If we can encourage people to invest in their relationships now, and to take small steps to improve things, we can stop relationships from breaking down in the future.”
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