A space to care for your mind, your relationships and your family

1. Relationships affect physical health, not just feelings

Family medicine sees each person's health as connected to their family and relationships, and population research supports this. A meta-analysis of 148 studies with more than 300,000 participants found that people with stronger social relationships had about 50% higher odds of survival over the follow-up period, an effect comparable to well-known risk factors such as smoking.^[1]

For couples specifically, a meta-analysis of 126 studies with more than 72,000 participants found that better marital quality was linked with better health, including lower mortality and smaller rises in heart rate and blood pressure during conflict. Individual effects were small but consistent.^[2]

Physical mechanisms have been studied too. In an experiment with 42 married couples, those with consistently hostile interactions during a conflict discussion healed small experimental wounds at only about 60% of the rate of low-hostility couples, and showed higher levels of inflammatory markers.^[3]

The reverse is also true: chronic illness, erectile dysfunction, the postnatal period or caring for ageing parents can all strain a relationship. Good care looks in both directions at once.

2. Evidence for couples and family counselling

Relationship satisfaction. A 2020 meta-analysis found that couple therapy improved relationship satisfaction and communication compared with no treatment.^[4]

Depression. A Cochrane systematic review found couple therapy reduced depressive symptoms about as much as individual therapy, and reduced relationship distress more, especially in already distressed couples. The certainty of evidence is low because the trials are small.^[5]

Other adult problems. A review in the Journal of Family Therapy concluded that couple, family and systemic interventions are supported for a range of problems, including relationship distress, psychosexual problems, anxiety and mood disorders, alcohol problems and adjustment to chronic physical illness, whether used alone or alongside other treatment.^[6]

3. Evidence for art therapy

A WHO Regional Office for Europe review of more than 3,000 studies concluded that the arts play a role in promoting health, preventing ill health and supporting treatment across the life course, including mental health.^[7]

For art therapy specifically, a systematic review of 11 randomised trials in people with non-psychotic mental health conditions found benefits on symptoms compared with controls in 7, although most trials were of limited quality and at risk of bias.^[8] Another review of art therapy in adults reported benefits across several groups, including people with cancer, depression or anxiety and older adults, while calling for higher-quality studies.^[9]

Art helps because it offers a “second language” for feelings that are hard to put into words, reduces the pressure of having to speak directly, and lets couples and families see each other's perspective.

4. Evidence for therapeutic activities

Therapeutic activities at Kris Care Space focus on meaningful activity, a balanced daily rhythm and quality time together. This is consistent with behavioural activation, which NICE lists as an evidence-based treatment option for depression.^[10]

Movement matters too. A 2024 network meta-analysis in the BMJ of 218 studies and more than 14,000 participants found that walking or jogging, yoga, strength training and tai chi reduced depressive symptoms, although certainty of evidence was low to very low.^[11]

5. The limits of the evidence, and what we can promise

Evidence for couple therapy is relatively robust, while art therapy and activity-based approaches still rely on small studies of mixed quality, so results vary between people. We use these approaches as part of whole-person care, review what is working for you, and do not promise more than the evidence supports. If a condition needs specialist treatment, such as severe depression, we coordinate referral to a psychiatrist.