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...
28.042021April 1, 2021
Archive for tag: Criticism
Home » Criticism
20.012021December 2, 2020
What I Need
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Criticism, Needs
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...
06.012021December 2, 2020
Silent Rage
Alex and Courtney are an engaged couple in their early thirties, living together in the city. One evening Alex was hoping to hang out with...
21.052020September 9, 2020
Correcting Misperceptions
Brandon and Gayle were talking about their weekly struggles in couples counseling when Gayle said, “You think you’re better than me.” Brandon was surprised and...
19.022020February 3, 2020
The Eleventh Hour
Jack criticized Ashley throughout their twelve-year marriage. Now she was fed up, to the point of asking Jack to leave the house. She was suffering...
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...
06.112018December 13, 2018
Imposed Judgement
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Criticism, Judgement
Eric was a good provider. He operated efficiently at work and expected the same in his household. This dynamic created strife at home with his...
27.092018December 4, 2018
Careless
In my relationship counseling sessions with Jill, I individually coach her to be more effective in her relationships with others. She recently started working with...
05.092018December 4, 2018
You Should
“Shoulds” are problematic in relationships. They indicate that a partner should act or not act in a particular way. If a partner doesn’t act accordingly,...
10.042018May 30, 2018
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...