As they were packing the car from a ski weekend away, Will barked at his wife when she almost knocked over a box that had...
Relationship Resources Blog
Each day my life is enriched by listening to and guiding couples as they bring their raw experiences to sessions and we try to make sense of difficult times. Through these blog posts, I hope to give readers a snapshot of our work including examples of the real issues that people bring, and how we can find meaning and a path out together. Their identities are protected, but each experience is real. Because relationships are complex, my role is to help couples share their experiences while providing a conceptual road map to understand their experiences, finding a way out of the woods of painful experiences. This blog shares stories and concepts; I hope it provides hope, insight and richness to each reader’s own journey.
Cascading
Cascading is when a couple quickly moves from one theme to another theme. The problem is that the conversation changes so quickly that the couple...
Exchanging Ideas
When a partner shares a thought or idea, be very careful about challenging that thought or idea. To do so may indicate that their thought...
Not Slipping Away
When Mandy first called the office, she said that she and her husband Alex were having severe communication issues. However, in our first session, Alex...
Very Carefully
When Kate first emailed me to inquire about a scheduling a session, she wrote “Our marriage is only 4 years old and rapidly deteriorating. We...
Getting it Done
In working with a young struggling couple, I was struck by how the wife was really getting it. By the fourth session, she made a...
Clarity Creates Change
Frank went out to pick up some groceries, but Meredith didn’t know where he was. When he returned, Meredith expressed her upset feelings about not...
Repairing Repairs
Repairs are one of the most difficult skills for couples to learn and implement. Repairs are when a conversation begins to go off track but...
Listen
Lauren and Anthony generally have a great relationship. They love each other deeply but struggle with communication. Their challenge is that communication difficulties are subtle,...
Read the Room
Jack and Eileen were arguing at home when Jack attacked Eileen, Eileen reacted, and Jack said, “Let’s end this.” When they processed this interaction in...
What I Need
Sue took issue with Jeremy calling her useless. She began to criticize him for name-calling when I stopped her. I suggested that rather than pointing...
Transparency
Christie discovered that Connor was calling another woman. Since Connor had a history of not being honest, this made the issue even more problematic. Connor...