What Are the Most Common Issues in a Relationship—And How Can Therapy Help?
Every relationship comes with its challenges. Almost everyone wonders at some point if having issues in a relationship means something is wrong… either within the relationship itself or within them as a partner. A relationship is made up of two unique people, each with their own experiences, dreams, opinions, and perspectives. If conflict never showed up in that mix… it really wouldn’t make sense!
That said, even though conflict is normal, it doesn’t mean it never requires support, and sometimes that support looks like relationship therapy. The key is learning how to handle conflict in a way that strengthens and builds your connection, which is often a skill many of us weren’t taught. Here are some of the most common relationship issues:
Communication Breakdowns
When communicating, especially about vulnerable topics or emotions, it’s easy for misunderstandings to happen. And when they do, our protective defenses often kick in, causing the conversation to either spiral into a different topic or escalate altogether. If one or both partners don’t feel truly heard, or if one or both begin avoiding the conversation entirely, progress on the relationship concern gets stalled.
Unresolved Conflict
It’s common to have repeating arguments in relationships. Some topics are simply harder to resolve, especially if there’s a mismatch or incompatibility in the relationship (and every relationship has them!). Still, even when a topic can’t be fully resolved, the way you communicate about it matters. A healthy approach can create an environment where both partners feel heard, seen, and supported. That, in itself, is a form of resolution. Without this, though, the foundation of the relationship can begin to feel cracked.
Mismatched Expectations
With two people, it’s completely natural to have mismatched expectations. These differences can be as big as finances or beliefs around parenting, or as small as how to spend time on vacation. Maybe one partner wants to lounge on the beach for a week and fully check out, while the other wants to explore and go on adventures. Misaligned expectations also show up in the roles and responsibilities partners take on throughout the relationship. These differences are common, and navigating them with openness and communication is often one of the biggest challenges couples face.
Intimacy and Connection Issues
Physical and emotional disconnection is something every relationship will likely experience at some point. It’s unrealistic to expect two people to always want the same level of closeness at the same time. But when one or both partners feel that their emotional or physical needs aren’t being met, it can easily be experienced as neglect or even abandonment. This can be painful to process, especially on an emotional level, even if nothing else in the relationship seems “wrong.”
Trust Issues
Trust issues are an incredibly common concern in relationships. Sometimes they show up after a betrayal has occurred. Maybe it was a lie or an infidelity that placed strain on the relationship. Other times, trust struggles come from something within one or both partners that existed long before the relationship began. Even if they’re unrelated to the current partnership, these deeper wounds can still have a big impact on how safe and emotionally secure the relationship feels.
How Can Relationship Therapy Help?
Therapy for struggling relationships can absolutely help with all the concerns listed above.
1. Building Communication Tools
Communication is a skill, and like learning a new language, it’s something that can always be practiced and strengthened. Many of us simply weren’t taught effective communication tools, so it makes sense that things might break down at times. The good news is that communication skills can be learned and improved. Therapy can be especially helpful here, offering guidance and practice that make a big difference in how partners express themselves and truly hear each other.
2. Conflict Repair
Just like communication, conflict repair is a skill, which means it can be learned. Relationships and even divorce have been studied for decades, and as a result, we actually know a lot about what helps couples repair after conflict and what doesn’t. That research gives us a roadmap for healthier repair, even when arguments get tough. Therapy can be an ideal place to learn and practice these skills, offering both partners the tools to move from disconnection back into understanding and closeness.
3. Increasing Understanding and Empathy
In relationships, when our protective or defensive mechanisms go up, it can feel like a wall is built between us and our partner. That wall makes it harder to really see each other clearly and can often lead to insecurity in the relationship. We might misunderstand their struggles, taking them as personal attacks or interpreting them as flaws of theirs. In therapy, those walls can begin to come down. As understanding and empathy grow, the dynamics in the relationship often shift, too. Conflict softens, stress patterns change, and partners are able to approach one another with more compassion and care.
4. Rebuilding Trust
When trust is broken, whether through betrayal, dishonesty, or a lie, it can feel incredibly difficult to rebuild, especially on your own. You may try to repair it on your own, only to feel like you’re circling back to the same place. If that’s been your experience, therapy can offer something different here: a safe, guided space with research-backed tools to help couples rebuild trust. With the support of a compassionate relationship therapist, trust can be addressed in a way that not only repairs the hurt but also helps strengthen the foundation of the relationship moving forward.
Words of Encouragement From a Relationship Therapist in New York, NY
Every relationship will face challenges as it’s part of two unique people doing life together. What matters most isn’t the presence of challenges, but how those challenges are worked through. My virtual New York therapy practice provides a supportive space to practice these tools, gain perspective, and grow closer in the process.
With the right support, challenges don’t have to break your relationship and can instead become opportunities to build a stronger one. If you’re ready to support, I invite you to connect with me by phone at (631) 618-8528 or email kaciemitterando@kmlcsw.com.
Work Through Challenges With Supportive Relationship Therapy in NYC
Every couple faces challenges—whether it’s communication struggles, unresolved conflict, trust issues, or feeling emotionally disconnected. But you don’t have to keep guessing how to fix things on your own. Relationship therapy can give you the tools to understand your patterns, heal old wounds, and create a healthier, more secure partnership. At Connected Healing Therapy, our NYC-based therapists specialize in helping individuals and couples navigate common relationship issues with compassion and proven strategies for change.
Here’s how to begin your journey toward a stronger relationship:
Explore whether relationship therapy is the right fit for you. Start by scheduling a free consultation.
Work with an experienced online relationship therapist in New York, NY, who understands the complexities of love, communication, and connection.
Gain the clarity, skills, and confidence to overcome recurring struggles and build a more fulfilling relationship—together or on your own.
Other Therapy Services We Provide in New York
Struggles like communication breakdowns, recurring arguments, and trust issues often come from deeper emotional patterns—not just surface-level conflict. Relationship therapy can help you uncover those roots, build healthier ways of relating, and feel more secure in your connection. At Connected Healing Therapy, we understand that relationship concerns are often intertwined with personal struggles like anxiety, self-doubt, or past emotional wounds. That’s why our support goes beyond traditional couples counseling.
Our therapists offer a range of therapeutic services designed to meet you wherever you are, including individual therapy, EMDR, couples counseling, and ADHD treatment. Whether you’re trying to rebuild trust, improve communication, manage emotional triggers, or break unhealthy patterns, we’re here to help you create a stronger relationship foundation—and a healthier, more confident sense of self.
No matter where you are in your healing process, we’re here to help you take the next step. Check out our blog for expert guidance, follow along on Instagram for regular tips, and schedule an appointment when you’re ready to start your work with us.
About the Author
Kacie Mitterando, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who helps individuals and couples navigate common relationship struggles—from communication breakdowns and trust issues to anxiety and fear of vulnerability. She is passionate about guiding people through the challenges that make relationships feel overwhelming, helping them build stronger, more secure connections.
Kacie earned her Master’s in Social Work from Stony Brook University and holds advanced training in evidence-based modalities, including EMDR, EFT, DBT, IFS, and CBT. She skillfully integrates these approaches to help clients uncover the root causes of their relationship difficulties, heal emotional wounds, and create healthier patterns in love and connection. As the founder and CEO of Connected Healing Therapy,
Kacie built her practice on the belief that “We heal in the context of others.” Her work empowers clients to gain insight into their relationship dynamics, communicate with confidence, and create fulfilling partnerships built on trust and emotional security.
