Cascading is when a couple quickly moves from one theme to another theme. The problem is that the conversation changes so quickly that the couple...
05.052021April 1, 2021
Archive for tag: Escalation
Home » Escalation
14.042021April 1, 2021
Very Carefully
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Conflict, Escalation, Language
When Kate first emailed me to inquire about a scheduling a session, she wrote “Our marriage is only 4 years old and rapidly deteriorating. We...
01.042021April 1, 2021
Clarity Creates Change
Frank went out to pick up some groceries, but Meredith didn’t know where he was. When he returned, Meredith expressed her upset feelings about not...
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,...
24.062020September 9, 2020
From My Couch to Yours
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Escalation, telehealth, virtual counseling
During the pandemic, a number of couples doubted the efficacy of telehealth. Some couples who I saw pre-pandemic chose not to continue until we could...
11.122019September 5, 2019
Learning From a Debacle
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Accusations, Defensiveness, Escalation
I hadn’t seen Tim and Maura for a while, but they talked about how much progress they were making. Then Tim brought up a time...
21.112018December 13, 2018
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...
08.082018December 4, 2018
Decelerating
A husband was asking me how his conversations with his wife could decelerate, once they begin to escalate. He described his conversations as driving 100...
07.032018May 30, 2018
Reacting to Reactivity
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Escalation, Reactivity
When Brendan finished talking about a situation at work, his wife Marianne started to share a story about the neighbors. Brendan was exhausted and talked...
14.022018May 30, 2018
Let me Finish
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Counseling, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Emotional Restraint, Escalation, Interrupting
When couples talk directly to each other in couples counseling, the ground rule is not to interrupt each other. When couples interrupt, they typically escalate....