The Spark Blog
Category: Couples
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How to Have a Better Conversation
Poor communication can be a starting point for relationship problems. Whether between married couples, parents and children, amongst friends or work colleagues, bad communication helps no one. Even amidst the rise of social media our primary means of communication remains the same now as it was before the telephone (let alone the mobile phone) was…
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Can We Cram Our Relationships?
Humans love to cram. We cram for exams, cram for interviews and cram before that big presentation at work. A whole 24-episode TV boxset gets crammed into a weekend and we cram our plates at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Our modern lives are often described as ‘time poor’ leaving us more inclined, or feeling we have…
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Songs For Sound Minds #11 – Coldplay
Songs for Sound Minds are our picks of the best music that uplifts, inspires and boosts mental health. Songs written as an anthem to overcoming the storms of life. The songs that give hope in those times when we are struggling. For track 11, it is stadium-shaking rock anthem ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay. Fix You –…
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Valentine’s Day is Still Important
The cards are in the shops. The adverts for champagne and chocolates are on the TV. Pink love hearts are popping up everywhere. We cannot fail to notice it is Valentine’s Day very soon. The annual celebration of love puts a high value on grand ideas and romance. Couples that have been together for a…
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It’s Valentine’s but we Just Started Dating!
Valentine’s Day is meant to be about love and relationships. For couples just starting out in a relationship it can end up feeling like an obstacle course full of opportunities for misunderstandings, overblown efforts and underwhelming gifts. To help couples navigate that first Valentine’s Day we have 3 simple tips to help you both enjoy…
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Growing up on Social Media
When it comes to posting pictures on social media we tend to operate a bit like the archetypal cowboy in a spaghetti Western; ‘shoot’ the picture first, ask questions later. This minor epiphany came to mind after reading an article about parents, kids and social media. Growing up on social media The feature posed this…
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When Marriage Feels Like a Trudge
The first month or so of the year can feel like a really challenging period for many couples. A sort of post-Christmas hangover sets in. Credit card bills and the unsettled arguments that were put on hold for Christmas rear their ugly heads. But often a difficult Christmas and New Year is the symptom of…
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What is a Counselling Session Like?
Deciding to try counselling usually comes after a lengthy period trying to solve problems by yourself or as a couple. Depending on what type of person you are, the idea of talking to a ‘stranger’ about deeply personal issues in a counselling session can create anything between ‘a little’ to ‘off the scale’ levels of…
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The Value of Counselling in Mediation
A recent TV series on mediation for separating couples reminded me how distressing the breakup of a relationship can be. The person you planned to spend your whole life with has become someone you do not know. Sometimes you are left wondering if you ever knew them. Who am I now? A breakup is a…
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