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Reigniting the Spark: How to Bring Back the Passion in a Stagnant Relationship

If your marriage feels more like a friendship than a romantic partnership, you’re not alone — and you’re not broken. One of the most painful challenges couples face is a sexless marriage. It’s often not about libido or love; it’s about disconnection, unmet needs, and unspoken resentment that builds over time.

But the good news? It can get better — much better. Passion isn’t something you either have or don’t. It’s something you can rebuild.

Let’s talk about how to reignite the spark, restore emotional and physical intimacy, and bring back the passion you both deeply miss.

1. Acknowledge the Elephant in the Room

A sexless marriage isn’t just “something you get used to.” It creates emotional distance, low self-esteem, and silent suffering. Before anything can improve, both partners need to be honest about the issue — without blame.

Start with this:
“I miss feeling close to you. Can we talk about how to reconnect — emotionally and physically?”

No solutions happen without safety and openness. Vulnerability is the first spark.

2. Create Space for Connection (Not Just Sex)

Sex doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If the only time you’re alone together is when you’re both exhausted in bed, passion will naturally take a back seat.

Try this:

  • Designate one evening a week as “us time” — no phones, no kids, no work talk.
  • Make eye contact. Flirt. Share something you haven’t told each other in a long time.

Intimacy starts long before the bedroom.

3. Ask: “What Makes You Feel Desired?”

Not everyone wants the same things — emotionally or physically. If your partner isn’t initiating, or you feel rejected, the answer might surprise you. They might feel undesirable, unseen, or unimportant.

Ask open-ended questions like:

  • “When did you last feel really close to me?”
  • “What do you wish we could do more of — or differently — in our intimate life?”

The goal isn’t performance. It’s connection.

4. Try Something New (In or Out of the Bedroom)

Stagnation is passion’s worst enemy. The brain craves novelty — and couples in long-term relationships often stop trying new things together.

This doesn’t have to be extreme:

  • Take a dance or cooking class together.
  • Plan a spontaneous overnight getaway.
  • Introduce a new element in your physical intimacy — a different setting, a slower pace, or something you’ve been curious about.

It’s not about being someone else. It’s about exploring more of who you are — together.

5. Work With a Therapist Who Gets It

Sometimes, you’re both trying… and still feel stuck.

That’s where a skilled marriage therapist can make all the difference. Not every counselor is equipped to address the emotional roots of a sexless marriage — so choose someone who specializes in intimacy and communication.

At The Marriage Restoration Project, we help couples uncover the hidden reasons behind physical disconnection and guide them back to feeling seen, wanted, and loved — without shame or pressure.

You don’t have to keep living like roommates.

Ready to Feel Close Again?

If your marriage is sexless, it doesn’t mean it’s loveless. It means something deeper is asking to be healed.

We’ve helped hundreds of couples restore connection and create a deeply satisfying intimate life — sometimes for the first time ever.

Let’s talk.
Contact us to schedule a free consult or learn more about our marriage retreats and online programs designed specifically to rebuild intimacy.

Final Thought

It’s not too late. The spark you’re missing? It’s still there — waiting to be rekindled.

Picture of Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin is an Imago relationship therapist and certified (master level) Imago workshop presenter with over 20 years of experience hosting couples therapy retreats in-person and online.

Picture of Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin is an Imago relationship therapist and certified (master level) Imago workshop presenter with over 20 years of experience hosting couples therapy retreats in-person and online.

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