Claire was upset at Andy for moving money from one account to another without telling her. He said he thought he had told her, but...
Archive for tag: Communication
Muscle Memory
In my couples counseling sessions, we focus a lot on language. Couples’ ability to work through issues depends on their communication skills. Couples counseling aims...
Rewiring
Heather came to couples counseling to either repair their relationship or end it. Her husband of thirty years, Jay, recently erupted and verbally attacked her,...
Integrity in Your Words
I usually think of integrity as fidelity in a committed relationship. However, one of my clients discussed having “integrity in your words.” I liked the...
What Works for Me
If you don’t like what your partner is saying or how they are saying it, many individuals criticize their partner or tell them what they...
Needs & Impact
Erin and Jeff had two young children and were frequently in conflict. Now a stay-at-home mother, Erin expected Jeff to know what she needed. For...
Have the Conversation
Last night, I watched a movie, Hope Gap, about a husband who had withdrawn from his wife.Her constant criticism of him led him to retreat....
Formula for Success
When Alyssa feels unimportant, she gets angry, but her husband, Dave, experiences her anger as an attack. Instead, now she will tell Dave that she’s...
Triggers
Trigger words are language that unintentionally evokes a negative reaction in a partner. These words are typically unique to the couple and occasionally go across...
Counter Punches
I saw Jessica and Dave about five years ago for a few sessions, and they recently returned. I was curious about their current situation, and...