Three Simple Ways to Care for Your Relationships

How Christian Counseling in Chicago Supports Deeper Connection

As human beings, we’re created for connection. Whether it’s with a partner, friends, or a family member, we thrive when our relationships feel safe, supportive, and meaningful. But connection doesn’t always come easily, especially when life feels overwhelming or past experiences have made it hard to trust.

As a dance therapist offering Christian counseling in Chicago, I often support people who feel that tension. They want strong, healthy relationships, but old patterns, anxiety, and disconnection keep getting in the way. I help them slow down, notice what’s happening in their bodies and minds, and gently explore what might be interfering with their ability to connect with others–and with themselves.

Nurturing close relationships takes time and intention, but that doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. Small, simple shifts, done consistently and with care, can begin to build the trust, closeness, and sense of belonging we long for.

Three Simple Ways to Begin Nurturing Your Relationships

1. Fill Your Cup: Taking Care of Yourself First

It can feel counterintuitive, but one of the most important things you can do for your relationships is to take care of yourself. When you’re running on empty, it’s harder to show up with patience, compassion, or clarity. But when you create even a little time to recharge–emotionally, spiritually, and physically–it becomes easier to be present with the people you love.

This doesn’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. It might look like:

• Spending a few quiet minutes with God before the day gets busy

• Going for a walk and letting your thoughts settle

• Doing something small that brings you joy–music, journaling, stretching, or simply breathing deeply

When you’re intentional about tending to your well-being, you increase your ability to show up in a grounded, wholehearted way. You become more aware of your needs and more able to tune into others’ needs without feeling overwhelmed or depleted.

2. Let Love Guide Your Thoughts: Practice Appreciation

Have you ever gone into a conversation already bracing for tension or expecting frustration? What if you flipped that script?

Before your next interaction with a loved one, pause and intentionally think about something you appreciate in them. It doesn’t have to be big, maybe it’s their sense of humor, their steadiness, or how they make great coffee.

Take a moment to pray–ask God to bring something to mind that’s beautiful about them, something maybe you’ve forgotten to notice lately. Meditate on that for just a minute or two… and then, when you see them, say it out loud:

• “I’ve really been appreciating how you always show up, even when things are hard.”

• “You know, I was thinking this morning about how kind you are to strangers. It inspires me.”

Expressing appreciation helps shift our mindset. It softens our hearts and theirs. It invites connection instead of criticism and builds a relational foundation of safety and encouragement.

3. Love in Action: Spreading Kindness

When we feel more grounded and cared for, it becomes easier to turn outward and notice others’ needs. Acts of kindness–especially the simple, thoughtful kind–can be a powerful way to cultivate connection.

Think of one person in your life. Is there something small that would make their day a little easier or brighter?

• A quick message to let them know you're thinking of them

• Picking up their favorite snack or drink

• Offering to help with a task you know they’ve been avoiding

• Sharing a verse or prayer that reminded you of them

The goal here isn’t to perform or “do more,” but to express care in a way that feels natural and grounded. When kindness flows from a place of ease and intention, not obligation, it deepens trust and connection.

How Christian Counseling in Chicago Can Support You in Building Stronger Relationships

Maybe you're reading this and thinking, I want to do these things… but something still feels stuck. That’s okay. So often, we want deeper relationships, but past hurt, anxiety, or emotional disconnection make it hard to get there on our own.

If that resonates, Christian counseling in Chicago can help you explore what’s been getting in the way and start moving toward healing. Whether you’re navigating painful relational patterns, struggling with emotional overwhelm, or feeling distant from yourself or God, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Through Christian counseling, I can help you:

• Explore the emotional patterns that make connections feel challenging

• Work through old wounds that may still be shaping how you relate to others

• Learn to recognize and express your needs without guilt or fear

• Reconnect with your identity in God’s love, so you can relate from a place of security, not striving

Final Thoughts from a Christian Counselor in Chicago

You don’t need to do something huge to make a difference in your relationships. Healing is possible, and sometimes, the most powerful change begins with one simple step.

Wherever you are in your journey–tired, hopeful, lonely, or longing–I want to remind you: you’re not alone. And you’re capable of growing the kind of connection your heart was made for.

Book a Free Consultation for Christian Counseling in Chicago

Ready to show up more fully in your relationships and in who God created you to be?
Schedule your free 15-minute consultation for Christian counseling in Chicago today and take the next step toward healing, growth, and deeper connection. 

Lisaura is a relationship therapist in Chicago who, through individual counseling and dance therapy, helps adults connect with themselves and others more fully.  

Spanish-speaking therapy is available.