With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it may be time to examine how we can strengthen our relationships with our significant others. Romantic relationships can be complicated and require lots of effort, communication and care to remain healthy. It may feel isolating when we don’t know where to turn to discuss our relationships, whether it be to discuss a specific problem or a general worry. Luckily, there are plenty of resources to help you empower your relationship with your significant other both on and off campus!
Couple’s Enrichment
The offers multiple relationship support services to undergraduate and graduate ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ students, the first being . This experience is different from Couple’s Counseling as it focuses on strengthening skills as opposed to targeting specific relationship issues. Enrichment is a great option for all couples at all stages of a romantic relationship, and it gives participants the ability to work on important skills like communication, conflict resolution, stress management and intimacy.
Couple’s Counseling
The second relationship support service the Barnes Center offers is . Couple’s Counseling is designed to help couples process thoughts, behaviors and patterns that contribute to specific relationship issues. Counselors can help couples with issues such as adjusting to cohabitating, balancing a co-parenting relationship, creating and maintaining intimacy, healing after infidelity, resolving sexual issues and strengthening trust.
Relationshi* Happens Workshop
is a free, in-person workshop offered by the Barnes Center that provides an engaging experience with your partner, friend or roommate to begin building an understanding of relational wellness. You will discuss everything from general relational wellness, communication, conflict management, family of origin/experience and other topics that would support student relational wellness! You can register for Relationshi* Happens sessions through the .
The Couple and Family Therapy Center
The is ’s therapy service located at Peck Hall on Genesee Street. CFTC offers confidential therapy services to families, couples and individuals who are struggling with life’s challenges. The most common issues addressed here include resolving relationship difficulties, easing communication struggles and affirming diverse gender experiences. CFTC offers a variety of treatment options, such as talk therapy, play therapy and sand tray interventions.
Cardinal Hope Couples Counseling
is a mental health counseling service located in downtown ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. They focus on addressing trauma, anxiety and relationship issues through individual and couples therapy. Their targets communication breakdowns, trust issues and reoccurring patterns of conflict to strengthen and repair relationships. Their goal is to help couples create fulfilling and harmonious relationships. If this sounds relevant to you and your partner, you can contact Cardinal Hope for a free consultation.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Couples Events
If couples counseling doesn’t sound relevant to you and your partner, but you are still looking for opportunities to spend more time together, consider looking into events specifically for couples in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ area. For example, a is being held on Sunday, Feb. 11, in downtown ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. There are many couples’ events and classes to check out, especially around Valentine’s Day. Visit an to see what’s happening near you.
Everyone deserves to feel happy, safe and loved in their relationship, but this is not always easy. No relationship is perfect, so sometimes it’s more than okay to ask for outside help. Whether there is a specific problem affecting your relationship or you’re just looking for ways to strengthen what’s already there, there are plenty of options all over ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. You just need to find what’s right for you and your partner.
The Peel wishes you a happy Valentine’s Day!
Written By Madison Manczko ’24, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
This article is for reference purposes only and is not deemed an endorsement by ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.