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?”...
Archive for tag: Communication
Possibility
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...
Why
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...
I’ve Changed!
Change is a crucial component of couples work. Couples counseling encourages partners to talk about what’s not working, so each person can change for the...
Off to a Great Start
Claire and Greg were struggling. Married 17 years, their relationship was punctuated by arguments and cool silence. Greg escaped into his beer and sports on...
Flammable Conversations
Kent realized the grill was low on propane gas, so he brought the propane canister from the shed into the house and put in at...
I Was Proud of Us
As Laura and Steve were progressing in couples therapy, Laura began our next session saying, “I was proud of us. We had a conversation.” This...
You Know That
Kevin and Shauna have been dating about 4 years and Shauna was wondering about the future of their relationship. Shauna, an art teacher, is emotional,...
What I Meant to Say
It’s not unusual for a couple to be talking about a previous conversation and a partner remembers the discussion differently. The tendency is for the...
A Word Can Make A Difference
During a couples counseling session, Debbie told her husband Al, “You are depressed.” The problem with the statement is that it’s critical and analytic—she’s diagnosing...