That feeling of falling in love is unlike anything else; feeling lighter than air, giddy at anything and everything your partner says. It all feels so special and brand new.  Nourishing that love and maintaining a relationship over time is where the work comes in. In a big city like New York, can a relationship survive an uptown/downtown divide? Or an Interborough subway ride? 

“As anyone in a relationship knows, staying with a partner is incredibly difficult,“ says City Therapy couples therapist Austin González, MHC-LP. Relationships are more than just falling in love, they require effort, patience, and a willingness to grow together, even when the initial spark fades. It is about waking up and choosing your partner daily, through the good and the challenging moments alike. 

Open communication, regular compromise, and learning how to navigate a relationship, especially living in a big city, are all important factors in keeping new love alive in NYC. But even with the best intentions, relationships can face obstacles that feel impossible to work through sometimes. “The couples who often see the most improvement in their relationships are the couples who start therapy when they encounter challenges in their relationship that they feel they can't resolve on their own,” adds Gonzalez. Seeking therapy does not mean a relationship is failing, but it can mean that both partners are invested in making it stronger.