Romantic relationships can be a source of great joy and distress, sometimes leading to competing feelings. When an individual is unsure about something in their relationship—such as whether to make a big commitment, separate, or make some other change—it’s helpful for them to take a step back and explore their feelings.

Our Relationship Clarification Questions worksheet is designed to help individuals better understand their role in their relationship and clarify feelings of ambivalence. Open-ended questions allow individuals to think deeply about their relationship in the following areas:

• Beliefs, values, & goals
• Family & social life
• Communication
• Intimacy

This handout is intended for individual therapy clients. It may additionally be appropriate in the context of discernment counseling, where one partner is leaning in (trying to deepen the relationship) and one partner is leaning out (pulling away). The goal is for individuals to gain clarity on their feelings, understand their role in relationship dynamics, and gain confidence in the next steps in their relationship.

Note that this worksheet is not intended for use in traditional couples therapy, where couples are seen jointly, with the goal of relationship repair and improvement.