Sometimes important things are left unsaid in relationships. This may be because a relationship ends abruptly or it’s too risky or hard to be honest. Over time, unexpressed feelings can lead to resentment, hurt, or grief.
Letter-writing is a technique for exploring your feelings about a relationship. Our Letter to a Relationship worksheet invites clients to write a letter to someone from their past or present with whom they’re struggling. The goal is to express and release pent-up emotions by writing about them.
Prompts offer guidance on topics to consider, such as:
- Something to apologize or ask forgiveness for
- How the relationship helped you grow
- Something you need to be honest about
- A change you’d like to see in the relationship
Invite clients to read their letter out loud in session and then talk about what that was like for them.
Some clients may ask about sending the letter to the person in question. This is generally not a good idea, because it shifts the focus to this person rather than the client’s internal process. Clients may also be unprepared for the response they receive (or don’t receive). If direct communication is possible and desired, explore how clients can do this in a way that promotes their growth and healing.
