Bipolar psychoeducation
A qualities in a partner worksheet can be a helpful tool for therapists working with couples or individuals navigating relationship challenges.
During the honeymoon phase of relationships, clients may overlook potential compatibility issues with their partners. As conflicts emerge, they become more aware of traits that may pose challenges to the relationship.
This relationship qualities worksheet provides therapists with a handy list of desirable characteristics to review with clients.
Therapists can download the free qualities in a partner worksheet to share with clients and guide them through meaningful discussions about what they truly value in a romantic partner.
Characteristics in a partner list
While positive relational characteristics don’t necessarily mean a relationship will succeed, these qualities and traits provide a good foundation for building a solid relationship.
Common characteristics, qualities, and traits in healthy relationships include:
Emotional qualities
Kindness: Showing compassion and care toward your partner.
Emotional stability: Taking responsibility for your emotional regulation and supporting each other through challenging times.
Sense of humor: Ability to laugh and lighten challenging moments.
Patience: Making space and showing patience to work through challenges calmly.
Self-awareness: The ability and willingness to self-reflect, receive feedback, and take accountability.
Trust: Trust may deepen over time, and it is an important component of a relationship in terms of having confidence in your partner, giving them the benefit of the doubt, being reliable, and being honest.
Independence: Honoring each person’s need for time to themselves, maintaining friendships, and space to spend time alone.
Communication skills
Poor communication is often a core component of relationship conflict.
Healthy communication traits include:
Honesty: Being open and truthful in interactions.
Active listening: Listening attentively and valuing each other’s perspective.
Conflict resolution: Handling disagreements respectfully and showing a willingness to problem solve, compromise, and repair.
Openness: Willing to discuss emotions, thoughts, and needs.
Healthy boundaries: Asking for consent (gaining permission to interact with the other person emotionally and physically) and showing respect for all other physical, mental, and emotional limits.
Supportive traits
Each person in the relationship should feel safe (physically and in their ability to express their thoughts and feelings), secure, and supported.
Shared values
Respect: Valuing each other's opinions, boundaries, privacy, and individuality.
Integrity: Sticking to your values and honoring commitments.
Equality: Taking equal responsibility and sharing responsibilities fairly.
Core beliefs and values: While each partner may have different beliefs and values, a healthy relationship honors individual and collective values, and where there is misalignment, finds a balance between each person’s needs.
Identifying strengths as a couple
Supporting clients to explore their joint strengths can help them deepen their bond, improve communication, and strengthen their relationships.
The following list of prompts (also included in the relationship qualities worksheet) may be helpful for clients to identify their strengths as a couple:
Shared goals and values
Do you have similar goals and aspirations?
What are some areas in which your values differ?
In what ways do you plan for the future together?
Emotional connection
Do you feel well supported emotionally?
Can you comfortably share your innermost feelings?
How do you express your love and affection for one another?
Communication skills
Are you open and honest in communication?
Do you feel heard and understood?
How effective are you at resolving conflicts?
What are some common areas of conflict?
Decision-making
How do you make decisions together?
In what ways do you make autonomous decisions?
How do you approach problem-solving?
Equality
How do you share household responsibilities?
Are there areas of inequality? If so, how do you feel about that?
Connection
Do you have shared interests?
In what ways do you carve out time together each week?
How do you experience fun and joy in your relationship?
When to use the qualities in a partner worksheet
Therapists may find the qualities in a partner worksheet helpful in several different scenarios.
For example, therapists can use the qualities in a partner worksheet as an icebreaker for couples therapy by asking each person to complete the “my partner's qualities” part of the worksheet.
The relationship qualities worksheet can also be used to identify the source of common conflicts, areas for growth in the relationship, and ways to improve communication.
Finally, the qualities in a partner worksheet can be a stepping stone for other worksheets, like fair fighting rules or assertive communication strategies.
What’s included in the relationship qualities worksheet?
The relationship qualities worksheet includes the following:
The first section is a partner appreciation worksheet to identify the qualities each partner appreciates about the other
A list of essential traits and characteristics in healthy relationships
Reflection prompts for a couple to identify their qualities and areas of growth
Sources
Hutchison, M. (2020). 12 Elements of healthy relationships. John Hopkins University.
Murray, C. HRI toolkit for couples. Healthy Relationship Initiative. New York State. (n.d.). What does a healthy relationship look like? Teen dating abuse awareness and prevention.
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