All couples face challenges in communication, emotional intimacy, and connection at some point during the lifespan of a relationship. Life adjustments tend to be prime time for challenges to perk up. Here is a practical framework from which to practice healthier communication. Intentional Dialogue is a technique in Imago Relationship Therapy designed to help couples communicate in a way that fosters more profound understanding and connection. 

Here are the key components of Intentional Dialogue:

1. Positioning: Both partners face one another, making direct eye contact, and holding hands or having knees touching if comfortable.
2. Mirroring: One partner speaks while the other listens without interruption.The listener repeats back what they heard, mirroring the speaker’s words with as much accuracy as possible.
3. Validation: After mirroring, the listener validates the speaker’s feelings, acknowledging that what they have shared is valid even if they don’t agree with it. 
4. Empathy: The listener empathizes with the speaker’s emotions, trying to fully feel and understand what the speaker is expressing.
5. Repetition: This process repeats until the speaker feels fully heard and understood. The roles are reversed and the other partner gets a chance to express themselves. 

Intentional Dialogue aims to increase empathic listening and validation while diminishing defensive and reactive communication patterns, helping couples work through conflicts and strengthen their emotional connection. To learn more about this technique, check out Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt.