Primary Care as Relationship Health and I Matter Informed Partners

Strengthening Relationship Health in Primary Care Settings

Primary care clinicians and teams are often the first point of contact for families facing stress, anxiety, behavioural challenges, emotional distress, or relational strain. The quality of relationships — between patient and clinician, within families, and across systems — deeply impacts wellbeing and recovery, yet it is rarely named or systematically supported in everyday practice. I Matter Training

The I Matter Framework supports primary care teams to build confidence, language, and practical insight in relationship health — so clinicians can support adults and children more effectively, reduce unnecessary escalation, and work in partnership with families and communities. I Matter Training

This is not clinical therapy — it is practical understanding and relational confidence that enhances care delivery and supports whole‑person wellbeing. I Matter Training

Why Join as a Primary Care Partner?

Becoming a partner means:

• Recognising relationship health as foundational to physical, emotional, and social wellbeing

• Supporting clinicians with confidence to navigate relational complexity

• Strengthening patient‑clinician and family‑clinician relationships

• Building bridges to community and education partners through a shared language

• Choosing engagement that fits your team’s resources and priorities

Primary Care Partnership Pathway

Step 1: Awareness & Alignment

Who: GPs, nurses, clinical leads, reception and support staff

• Introductory briefing or overview

• Understand how relationship health connects with preventive care, person‑centred practice, and continuity of care

Decision point: Primary care team decides whether to explore further engagement.

Step 2: Building Team Confidence

• Staff access I Matter learning tailored to primary care needs

• Focus on everyday relational interactions with patients and families

• Reduce frustration and burnout by strengthening understanding and communication

Decision point: Team feels confident with foundational relational ideas or opts for lighter engagement.

Step 3: Supporting Families Through Shared Language

• Use consistent relational language that connects with schools and community partners

• Help families make sense of challenges with clarity and dignity

• Encourage upstream thinking and prevention rather than crisis response

Decision point: Define how the practice incorporates relational support into routine care.

Step 4: Integrated, Community‑aligned Early Support (Optional)

• Partner with schools, mental health, and community organisations

• Support coordinated pathways for families with multiple needs

• Embed a relational lens into early help and social prescribing

Decision point: Clarify roles, resources, and when to connect with external support.

What Primary Care Teams Don’t Have to Do

✔ Replace clinical assessment or therapy
✔ Add undue workload without support
✔ Manage family systems alone

I Matter reduces pressure and enhances what you already do well. I Matter Training

How This Fits With Primary Care Priorities

The I Matter approach supports:

• Person‑ and family‑centred care

• Whole‑person wellbeing

• Continuity and trust in relationships

• Team‑based collaboration with education and community partners

• Prevention and early intervention

It complements existing primary care goals for equitable, effective, and coordinated care. integrationacademy.ahrq.gov

Who This Helps Most

• Teams noticing increasing complexity in presentations

• Practices aiming for better integration with schools and communities

• Clinicians wanting confidence in relational conversations

• Settings committed to prevention, early support, and whole‑person health

Next Steps

1. Request an introductory conversation

2. Access a brief recorded overview

3. Explore clinician and team learning options

4. Discuss partnership models that work for your setting

👉 [Explore Partnership Options]
👉 [Request an Introductory Conversation]