A fresh start for your relationship can begin any time—but the start of a new year offers a natural invitation to pause, reconnect, and realign. In our Woodland Hills Couples therapy sessions, we often explore the importance of maintaining and strengthening your relationship with your life partner. In 2026, why not make emotional intimacy part of your resolutions?

What Does It Mean to “Strengthen Your Relationship” in the New Year?

Is it about doing more date nights? 

Having fewer arguments? 

Or feeling seen again? 

Whether you’ve been together for 2 or 20 years, strengthening your bond starts with intention. Strengthening your connection means intentionally making space for emotional presence and open communication—not just during a crisis, but in your daily routines.

As a Couples Counselor in Woodland Hills, I know that there are always signs and symptoms of issues, whether they are subtle or overt, consistent, or intermittent. Here are signs that your relationship could benefit from a fresh start:

• You feel like “roommates” more than romantic partners.
• Conversations revolve mostly around logistics or kids.
• One or both of you feel emotionally neglected or misunderstood.
• There’s little physical or emotional intimacy.
• Conflict feels circular or unresolved.

2 Ways to Reignite Connection in 2026

1. Weekly “State of the Union” Check-In

Set aside 30 minutes weekly to check in with each other, without distractions. Effective communication can solve so many problems, some even before they become a problem. Those we see for Couples Therapy in Woodland Hills find that it is beneficial to set aside time every week for communication. This is time allocated that works well for both partners, is planned in advance so that each partner can be thoughtfully prepared, and isn’t likely to be interrupted.

• Ask: “How are we doing—really?” This kind of question can feel like a field of landmines, which leads many couples to avoiding it entirely. The fact is that it is an important question to ask, and an important question to be prepared to hear tough answers to. Establishing how you’re really doing in your partnership gives you a starting point when it comes to addressing things that you want or need to change. For example, if the answer to “How are we doing”? is that both of you feel that you crave more intimacy, you can look at your schedules to find where there is time for that. It may involve a date night, doing a shared activity that you both enjoy, or sending the kids for a sleepover elsewhere. When you don’t ask the question, both of you are feeling the same way, but neither one is stating or addressing it. The only way to improve a situation is to accept and acknowledge it, and then go from there.
• When stating how you feel you are doing, speak to your own feelings and wants, not the other person’s behaviors or choices. The State of the Union is not a space for accusations, it’s a block of time set aside for self-expression and mutual understanding. Use prompts like: “I felt so close to you when…” or “I’d love more support with…” This is a time for you to share with your partner what works best for you. It’s far more inspiring to work towards a positive than it is to try to avoid a negative. You may surprise your partner, and your partner may surprise you, with what is truly appreciated and wanted. When you speak solely to your wants, needs, and joys, you forgo the idea that your partner should have guessed what mattered to you without being told. Open communication is a trust builder that cannot be replaced with intuition or guessing. Honesty with one another helps you to understand one another better, and allows each of you to know that your wants and needs have been expressed.
• End with appreciation. The reason you do this at the end of the conversation is so that, no matter how tough some of the discussion got in the middle, you leave feeling seen and respected by your partner. This makes the effort of being honest and vulnerable feel more rewarding overall, and nurtures the idea that you can express your pain points and fears without thinking less of your partner. Ending with appreciation cannot make up for a conversation that wasn’t based in respect and love; that is not the point. Be careful not to rely too heavily on ending with appreciation when you are navigating the conversation. It is as simple as saying, “One thing I appreciated about you this week…” It will often be something they did for you, but there may be times when you truly appreciate something they achieved for themself, or a way they showed up for a friend or neighbor that displays a trait of theirs that you admire.

2. Create a “Together Vision” for 2026

Sit down and dream out loud. Each of you are bound to have your own goals, as well as goals you would like to achieve together. When you can work as a team toward both, you can strengthen your bond and experience new things together.

• What do you each want more of this year—individually and as a couple? This is not a time to reject ideas at hand; it’s not about saying, “I want more time for the gym, but there isn’t any”. This is where you lay it all out there and be honest about what you’d like 2026 to look like. That doesn’t mean you’ll achieve it all, but the best way to get the most of what you want is to establish what it is that you want. When it comes to your individual goals, the same rule applies. Even if you feel like it’s not plausible within the context of your relationship or family dynamic, if it’s important to you, say it. You cannot lay out everything you need as individuals and a couple if you keep some back to yourself. This time is for expressing yourselves clearly and without accusation or assumption.
• Are there habits or routines you’d like to start together? Again, this is a time where you can throw it all on the table. As you discuss how you each feel and what you’d like to try to implement, you may have to prioritize certain things over others. Don’t self-censor before you come to that natural conclusion. Each of you may rank your priorities a little differently; if your top priority is your partner’s third, and vice versa, this is where you each recognize that you have a “top three priority” in common. Let yourselves enjoy the process of talking about what you’d like to do, and then tackling the task of implementing it together. Be creative about finding space and trying new things. You aren’t locked in to what you decide to try out, and can always adjust at a later time if your first attempt isn’t working the way you wanted it to. Having an open mind and a willingness to try something else is how you will be able to create the routines to support the habits you value the most.
• Consider values (connection, adventure, calm) instead of just goals. Sometimes, what you want is truly what you are saying; other times, what is at the core of a desire is actually a value. For example, you may want to travel because there is a place you want to visit that offers unique experiences. On the other hand, you may think, “I want to travel more”, but really at the core you want new experiences. Where this is beneficial is if travel really isn’t an option this year, but new experiences are entirely possible. A shared value can also be approached in individual ways, so that each of you are working toward a common goal in a way that also works well for you. For example, if you both want more calm, one of you may adjust a schedule to get more work done at a certain time so that they are able to unplug, and both of you are available to relax at the same time of day.

Key Takeaways

• A strong relationship is built on daily habits, not just occasional effort.
• The new year offers an opportunity to reset and realign—not just for individuals, but for couples too.
• Rituals and intentional conversations are simple, powerful tools for connection.
• You may choose to attend in-person or Online Couples Therapy to explore and strengthen your relationship in a safe, neutral space.

How Couples Therapy Can Help

Couples therapy offers:

• A neutral space to identify and explore patterns that keep you stuck.
• Tools to improve communication, emotional attunement, and conflict repair.
• Guidance in building a stronger, more emotionally connected partnership in 2026 and beyond.

You don’t need to wait for a crisis to invest in your relationship—sometimes a fresh start is the most loving thing you can do.

Couples Therapy In Woodland Hills

By the time many couples consider marriage counseling, they’re often feeling disconnected, discouraged, or uncertain about the future. Unresolved conflict, lack of trust, or emotional distance can make it hard to move forward.

Our Gottman-trained couples therapists in Woodland Hills are here to help. Through therapy, we’ll work together to identify the strengths and challenges in your relationship and teach you practical skills to improve communication, deepen emotional intimacy, and create a more flexible, supportive partnership.

Contact us today for your complimentary 20-minute phone consultation with our Admin Team today!