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...
07.042021April 1, 2021
Archive for tag: Communication
Home » Communication
03.022021December 2, 2020
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,...
09.092020September 9, 2020
Essential Conversations
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Conflict, Couples Counseling, Escalation
Successful couples know how to discuss issues without escalating. If they do escalate, they may be able to repair conflict as it’s occurring. If not,...
01.072020September 9, 2020
Amend the Agreement
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Agreements, Communication, Priorities
Over the weekend, Jessica agreed that she would call the contractor on Monday. When Tony asked about it on Tuesday, he was upset that she...
29.012020January 23, 2020
Words Matter
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Communication Sequences
Couples have incidents and issues that they need to work through. Each time an incident or issue is unresolved, it builds up. It’s like dropping...
23.012020January 23, 2020
Difficult Conversations
Some conversations are more difficult than others. One of the easier conversations for couples to have is stress-reducing conversations. These are when couples talk to...
27.112019September 5, 2019
Missed Opportunity
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Couples Counseling, Interactions
I was talking with a colleague with whom I share a case (she sees the wife individually) and she talked about her approach to couples...
06.112019September 5, 2019
Why Are You Rhetorical?
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Language
Jan just got back from a week-long conference and found Jeff in the garage. Jeff seemed aggravated and Jan said, “What’s the matter with you?”...
23.102019September 4, 2019
Possibility
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Language, Subtleties
I was talking with a couple about the importance of paying attention to the subtlety of language and the husband said, “I’m not skilled at...
12.062019April 3, 2019
Why
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Criticism, Lead-In Phrases
I was recently at a presentation by the Samaritans on suicide prevention. They said their volunteers are taught not to ask “why” questions, saying that...