The 5 Types of Intimacy

Elizabeth Fedrick
July 17, 2024

Tips from Dr. Liz

When we hear the word “intimacy” there is generally one thing that most often (and quickly) comes to mind…

However, intimacy is so much more complex and multifaceted than boiling it down to only one thing.

Intimacy can be defined as the connection and closeness between two individuals. It is the foundation of safety, trust, and vulnerability within a relational dynamic.

True intimacy is a crucial part of a healthy relationship because it signifies connectedness, an alliance, and an agreement to consistently “show up” for each other, even in hard times.

Thus, intimacy is about the various components of a relationship that contribute to a sense of safety, connection, and partnership.

I believe that there are five main categories of intimacy in any type of romantic relationship that require time, attention, and energy from each partner:

Physical: kissing, cuddling, holding hands, nurturing touch, lick/nibble, rub/caress, sexual activities

Emotional: communication, vulnerability, connection, flirting, laughing, empathy, dreaming together

Intellectual: deep conversations, thought provoking, mental stimulation, museums/theater, introspection, creativity, curiosity

Experiential: exploring, adventures, novelty, experiences, challenges, spontaneity, out of comfort zone

Spiritual: inner worlds, higher powers, values/morals, rituals, meditation, tantra, attunement

If your desire is to create, regain, or strengthen your connection with a romantic partner… stop to assess how much effort you are putting into each of these areas… and then identify ways you can start today to make each one more of a priority.

Join us for a live 8-week group workshop to start your Relationship (Re)Programming journey!

You deserve better than…

Painful & unfulfilling relationships
Getting stuck in toxic cycles
Ongoing Struggles with communication, conflict resolution, & boundaries
Not knowing how to get your relational needs met (or even what those needs are)
Intimacy struggles & disconnection
Feeling hopeless about relationships

Relatable | Relationships Unfiltered Episode 32

July is Intimacy Month here at Relatable! Dr. Liz hangs out with Mathew Blades, host of the Learn From People Who Lived It podcast, for a special four-part series all about intimacy. In this first episode, Dr. Liz and Mathew explore the five types of intimacy and discuss the importance of incorporating all five types into your romantic relationship. They provide examples of different types of intimacy, as well as suggestions on ways to start strengthening overall intimacy in your relationship. Dr. Liz and Mathew also talk about barriers to intimacy, including self-sabotaging behaviors, and discuss ways to address this.