Therapeutic Worksheet

Your Relationship Circle

A gentle map of the people in your world. Place each person in the circle that best reflects your closeness to them — then take time to reflect on what you notice.

Your name

Date

Session / context

Choose a ring

Select the circle on the right that represents how close you feel to someone.

Add a name

Type their name and press Add or Enter. They'll appear in that ring of your circle.

Move freely

Remove and re-add anyone at any time. There are no right or wrong answers.

Reflect

Scroll down and spend a few minutes with the reflection questions below.

Print or save

Use the Print button to save or print your completed worksheet to bring to your session.

Place someone in a circle

Select the ring that feels right, type their name, and press Add. You can always move them by removing and re-adding.

Understanding the circles

What each ring represents

There are no fixed rules about who belongs where. Trust your instinct — where someone sits reflects your felt sense of closeness, not obligation.

Ring 1

Intimate circle

Those with whom you can be completely yourself — without mask or performance.

Partners, closest friends, a trusted family member

Ring 2

Close circle

People you trust deeply, confide in, and who know the real you in important ways.

Good friends, close siblings, a mentor

Ring 3

Social circle

People you enjoy spending time with and feel warmly toward, though perhaps less deeply known.

Friends, colleagues, neighbours

Ring 4

Outer circle

Acquaintances and familiar faces — people you know and interact with but are not yet close to.

Extended family, work contacts, community members

Ring 5

Peripheral

Those on the edges of your world — present in some way, though perhaps distant or fading.

Former friends, distant relatives, online connections

Reflection questions

What do you notice?

Take your time with these questions. There are no right or wrong answers — only an invitation to be curious, honest and kind with yourself.

What is the first thing you notice when you look at your circle?

Consider the overall shape — who is there, where the circles feel full or empty.

Are there any relationships you would like to move closer to the centre? What might be getting in the way?

Think about what closeness would require — vulnerability, time, a difficult conversation.

Are there any relationships in your inner circles that feel draining rather than nourishing?

Closeness and nourishment are not always the same thing. What does this bring up for you?

How satisfied do you feel with the size and shape of your circle overall?

Do you have enough people? Too many? Is there a balance between giving and receiving?

Is there anyone missing from your circles — someone you wish were there, or once was?

This might include people who have passed, relationships that have changed, or connections not yet made.

What one small, kind step could you take this week to nurture a relationship that matters to you?

Small acts of connection — a message, a call, showing up — carry more weight than we often believe.

A note from Cambium

Our relationships are among the most powerful forces shaping our mental health and sense of self. Research consistently shows that the quality — not just the quantity — of our close relationships is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing and resilience.

If this exercise has brought something into focus — a longing, a tension, a grief, or a hope — that is exactly the kind of material we can explore together in therapy. There is no need to have it figured out before you come.

This worksheet is for reflective and therapeutic purposes only. It is not a clinical assessment. If you are experiencing significant distress in your relationships or find this exercise difficult, please speak with your counsellor or a qualified mental health professional. If you are in crisis, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7).