Erin and Tom were invited to a neighbor’s house for a dinner party. When they asked what to bring, the neighbors said not to bring...
13.042022April 12, 2022
Archive for tag: Criticism
09.032022February 2, 2022
Turning a Corner
Jeff and Diane were in trouble. Diane was questioning whether to continue the marriage. Jeff was critical and she had enough. In couples counseling we...
09.022022February 2, 2022
Staying in Love
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples TherapyTags Contempt, Criticism, Defensiveness, Four Horsemen, Respect, Responsiveness, Stonewalling
When you meet the right person, falling in love is easy. Almost all committed relationships have the experience of falling in love. This other worldly...
13.102021September 29, 2021
More Than Roomates
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage CounselingTags Attraction, Criticism, Emotional Connection, Roommates, Sarcasm
Katelyn described a transactional relationship with Jake. They managed a household together and raised children, but the relationship felt more like roommates. The romance and...
28.042021September 29, 2021
Exchanging Ideas
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Challenging, Criticism, Sharing
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...
20.012021December 2, 2020
What I Need
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, 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...
12.062019September 19, 2024
Why
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, 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...