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12 Steps to Improve Your Communication in Relationship Conflict February 1, 2021 . No Comments
By Kendall Coffman, MS, Marriage and Family Therapist Bids for Connection: 12 Steps to Improve Your Communication in Relationships Bids for Connection and Love Relationships can be challenging, ... Read More
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Pitfalls and Possibilities on the Road to a Healthy Marriage July 10, 2019 . 2 Comments
Over my years as a therapist, I have enjoyed helping premarital couples as they prepare for marriage. One of the books I frequently recommend is John Gottman’s 2015 book, The Seven Principles ... Read More
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Emotional Connection: What Couples Who Stay Together Do Every Day April 25, 2018 . 11 Comments
Emotional connection is the bond that keeps people together. It is the glue in relationships. Many couples don’t realize that if they are not regularly connecting on an emotional level, ... Read More
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6 Ways to Embrace Conflict and Keep Your Relationship Strong June 28, 2016 . 7 Comments
As a couples counselor, few things worry me more than a couple whose hot conflict has cooled to a long and icy silent treatment. Barring any kind of violence, this is one of the four signals ... Read More
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Starting with Yes: Cultivating the Positive in Relationships February 3, 2016 . 7 Comments
You’re upset with your partner; your emotional brain is fired up, and you offload a criticism. In your mind, you’re just trying to communicate your feelings and help your partner do ... Read More
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What to Do When Your Relationship Feels Unsteady November 21, 2013 . 6 Comments
When a relationship feels stuck or distant, it is hard to know how to rekindle the connection and create a sense of shared closeness again. You may have the same reasons for feeling disconnected ... Read More
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How to Start Your Conversations Skillfully September 24, 2013 . 5 Comments
The art of telling jokes effectively and using precise comic timing is an unusual gift. You have probably told a joke at a party and experienced listeners responding to the proper setup ... Read More
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Managing Conflict to Protect Your Relationship August 27, 2013 . 3 Comments
Conflict can seem like a divisive and dangerous force in a romantic relationship. The early stage of attraction to a new love gives us the sense that we are understood in a way that is ... Read More
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Positive and Negative Perspective in Relationships July 29, 2013 . 4 Comments
People in good relationships have developed the habit of looking out for their partner’s kindnesses and considerate actions. They succeed at preventing oversights and bad moods from interfering ... Read More
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The Importance of Friendship for Couples Dealing with Conflict June 20, 2013 . 3 Comments
The Gottman Method of therapy, developed by John and Julie Schwartz Gottman, is remarkably successful at helping couples who are dealing with entrenched conflict. Some of the effectiveness ... Read More
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An Introduction to the Gottman Method of Relationship Therapy May 30, 2013 . 6 Comments
John Gottman, a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Washington, entered the field of psychological research with a background in advanced mathematics and statistical analysis. ... Read More
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Are You a Mediocre or an Exceptional Partner? August 8, 2012 . 10 Comments
How many relationships do you see around you that you would actually want to be in? For most of us, we can count the number on one hand. An even better question might be, “Am I in the ... Read More