Want to increase intimacy and connection with your partner? Try these 5 expert tips from relationship coach
Relationship coach Amanda Twiggs Johns shares five simple yet powerful steps to deepen your bond and ignite a stronger, more fulfilling relationship.
Closeness and intimacy are what keep a relationship thriving. They help us feel connected, appreciated, and truly understood by our partners. Be it the honeymoon phase or years down the road, building that strong bond takes attention, understanding, and a little extra effort.

"Creating intimacy in a relationship means diving deep into what truly matters—facing those patterns of hurtful interactions, addressing the triggers that keep us stuck, and healing past wounds that linger beneath the surface. But it doesn't stop there. We're all about rebuilding. Strengthening those foundational elements of friendship, trust, commitment, and love. It's like laying down a solid bedrock for something truly extraordinary to flourish upon," says Amanda Twiggs Johns, marriage and relationship coach, in her recent Instagram post. (Also read: What is Throning? The dating trend everyone's talking about )

She added, "And then comes the spark. Reigniting that flame of passion, intimacy, and connection that may have dimmed over time. It's about breathing new life into your relationship, creating a bond that not only survives but thrives. These steps, they're not just about surface-level fixes. They're about diving deep into the heart of what makes relationships work. They're about self-awareness, vulnerability, and open communication."
She further shared five steps couples can take to increase their closeness, connection and intimacy.
1. Recognise patterns of conflict
Identify any recurring hurtful interactions, like fighting, avoiding, distancing, or criticism. This awareness helps you prevent issues from escalating.

2. Uncover and heal triggers
Explore your personal triggers and the past wounds that may have caused them, allowing for healing and preventing old issues from resurfacing in the relationship.
3. Repair relationship injuries
Work together to address and heal from past injuries—whether they stem from rejection, betrayal, emotional neglect, or lack of family boundaries—to rebuild trust.

4. Strengthen emotional connection
Re-establish a foundation of friendship, trust, and support to reinforce your emotional bond and create a safe space for intimacy to grow.
5. Ignite passion and fulfilment
Foster deep intimacy and reignite the passion, aiming to create a relationship that's not only connected but also deeply fulfilling and joyful.
ABOUT THE AUTHORAkanksha AgnihotriAkanksha Agnihotri is a lifestyle journalist with over 3 years of experience. She is a psychology graduate and holds a postgraduate diploma in Radio and Television Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, where she graduated as a gold medalist. Originally from Bhopal, the beautiful capital of Madhya Pradesh, she draws inspiration from the city’s rich cultural heritage and layered storytelling traditions that subtly shape her narrative voice. She writes extensively about fashion, beauty, health, relationships, culture, and food, exploring everything from trending styles and runway moments to wellness routines and mindful living. Passionate about meaningful and candid conversations, she enjoys interviewing celebrities, doctors, designers, and film personalities, diving into discussions on fitness, beauty, mental health, and everything fun in between. With a keen eye for trends and a thoughtful understanding of human behaviour, she brings depth, sensitivity, and authenticity to her stories, ensuring they resonate with a wide and diverse audience. When she’s not working, you’ll usually find her lost in a book, planning her next mountain trek, or mapping out spontaneous travel escapes. She loves discovering new authors, revisiting old favourites, and spending quiet afternoons in museums soaking in art, history, and culture. An avid bird-watching enthusiast, she finds joy in early morning walks, spotting rare birds, and reconnecting with nature. Whether sipping coffee while journaling her thoughts or exploring hidden corners of a new city, she constantly seeks inspiration in everyday moments that often turn into compelling story ideas.Read More
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