Relationships can be difficult to navigate. There is a great deal of passionate emotion stirring around our souls when our relationships are not sailing along smoothly. Relationships in recovery are even more tricky. Not only is the relationship often in stormy seas, but it's also as if the person in recovery is steering two ships—that of their recovery, and that of their relationship.
By using a few navigational tools for our relationships we can ensure all the people in our lives are on the same boat and steering toward the same goal: peaceful, loving, joyful and clean-living relationships.
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Topics:
Healthy Relationships,
Breaking Habits,
Couples Therapy,
couples workshop,
therapy,
Relationships in Recovery
Here's your Monthly Digest packed full of amazing Imago Relationship Blog posts and Relationship Tips.
Be sure to Subscribe to both and share the love!
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Topics:
Managing Conflict,
Family Mission Statement,
Family Culture,
Healthy Relationships,
Happy Relationships,
Marriage Issues,
Breaking Habits,
Emotional Safety,
Appreciations,
Appreciation and Gratitude,
Finding Love Again,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Self Care,
Stress Relief,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Human Connection,
Mental Health,
Digital IQ,
Monthly Digest,
Imago Relationships,
Couples Quality Time,
Relationship Vision,
Intentional Dialogue,
Emotional Connection,
Self Love,
Defense Mechanisms,
Divorce,
Holiday Fun,
Teenagers,
couples workshop,
family therapy
As an Imago Therapist, I often hear clients express their concerns about their partner's behaviors during moments of conflict. One partner might be fully bothered by the fact their partner seems to shut down, while another client might hate the fact their partner overreacts and takes things "the wrong way."
As one client recently summed it up, "The problem with my wife is, she’stoo defensive! I say one thing and she acts like I just about killed her." Interestingly, this man's wife saw the issue as her husband beginning to withdraw again. As she puts it, "He never wants to talk. If I tell him I want to have a conversation he gives me the "Am I in trouble?" look and seems to slink away."
What's truly bothering each person in this relationship, is the defense that their partner presents in a response to THEM!
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Topics:
Managing Conflict,
Happy Relationships,
Marriage Issues,
Emotional Safety,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Relationship Vision,
Intentional Dialogue,
Defense Mechanisms,
couples workshop
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if your relationship is actually headed for the rocks. Or you might suspect that, in fact, it’s already over. But is it just a normal part of a relationship to be in conflict sometimes? How do you know if it’s really in trouble?
Most of us get uncomfortable thinking about ending any long term partnership. It’s super scary to leave a comfortable relationship even if it’s not fulfilling, even if we become unhappy or close to miserable. We stay in what we know. We don’t want to hurt another person.
Plus, it’s hard to move furniture. And change your whole life.
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Topics:
Sex Therapy,
Managing Conflict,
Marriage Issues,
Decluttering Your Life,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Imago Relationships,
Relationship Vision,
Intentional Dialogue,
couples workshop
Here's your Monthly Digest packed full of amazing Imago Relationship Blog posts and Relationship Tips.
Be sure to subscribe to both and share!
Read More
Topics:
Managing Conflict,
Healthy Relationships,
Happy Relationships,
Marriage Issues,
Breaking Habits,
Panic Attacks,
Anxiety,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Self Care,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Mental Health,
Monthly Digest,
Imago Relationships,
Couples Quality Time,
Relationship Vision,
Emotional Connection,
Self Love,
Cheating,
Divorce,
Acts of Kindness,
Gender Identity,
Sexual Identity,
Teen Sexuality,
Breathing Techniques
Considering divorce? It’s understandable.
You've experienced relationship struggles, and it's become a frustrating place to live. Your partner is obviously capable of showing generous love to the dog or cat as you witness the affection you long for. You can't remember the last time your partner asked about you, your day or expressed any interest in any aspect of your life. It’s been years since you fell in love and now, at best you feel like you’re living with a roommate, and at worst, you’re “sleeping with the enemy”.
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Topics:
Healthy Relationships,
Conflict Resolution,
Marriage Issues,
Appreciation and Gratitude,
Finding Love Again,
Forgiveness,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Imago Relationships,
Relationship Vision,
Intentional Dialogue,
Celebrate the Differences,
Defense Mechanisms,
Divorce,
couples workshop,
therapy
When most people are asked to describe what cheating would look like in their relationship the first thing that comes to mind is an extramarital affair. But there are a number of ways you can cheat your partner out of genuine intimacy without ever having an affair.
As a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist I am all too familiar with the importance of "closing the exits" in your marriage. Affairs, addictions and even mental illness can all be forms of hard-core exits. But exits can also be those subtle little diversions couples engage in that enable them to avoid true intimacy with each other.
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Topics:
Managing Conflict,
Healthy Relationships,
Conflict Resolution,
Happy Relationships,
Resolve Conflict,
Marriage Issues,
Breaking Habits,
Finding Love Again,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Human Connection,
Imago Relationships,
Relationship Vision,
Emotional Connection,
Cheating,
couples workshop
Here's your Monthly Digest packed full of amazing Imago Relationship Blog posts and Relationship Tips.
Be sure to subscribe to both and share!
Read More
Topics:
Managing Conflict,
Healthy Relationships,
Conflict Resolution,
Happy Relationships,
Emotional Safety,
Appreciation and Gratitude,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Self Care,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Human Connection,
Mental Health,
Mental Fitness,
Emotional Intelligence,
Monthly Digest,
Imago Relationships,
Tidying Up,
Erotic Intelligence,
Sexual Desire,
Erotic Language,
Sexual Communication,
Emotional Connection,
Adulting,
Self Trust,
Self Love,
Celebrate the Differences,
Defense Mechanisms,
Being Humble
Does it sometimes feel like you and your partner are doing a dance and stepping on each other’s toes? Are you feeling frustrated by your partner and getting in conflicts?
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is my partner doing things that make me so annoyed?" What you might be surprised to learn is that what annoys you about your partner actually says more about you than him.
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Topics:
Managing Conflict,
Happy Relationships,
Breaking Habits,
Appreciation and Gratitude,
Finding Love Again,
Couples Therapy,
Self Care,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Imago Relationships,
Relationship Vision,
Emotional Connection,
Adulting,
Self Trust,
Self Love,
Defense Mechanisms,
couples workshop,
therapy
What does eroticism mean? The Center for Erotic Intelligence defines eroticism as “the interplay of desire and arousal with the daily challenges of living and loving,” and describes the five main elements of erotic intelligence as:
- Body attunement
- Social intelligence
- Emotional intelligence
- Self-awareness on steroids
- Creative imagination
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Topics:
Healthy Relationships,
Finding Love Again,
Relationship Therapy,
Couples Therapy,
Self Care,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Male Sexuality,
Eroticism,
Body Image,
Erotic Intelligence,
Sexual Desire,
Sexual Trauma,
Erotic Language,
Sexual Communication,
Emotional Connection,
Female Sexuality,
couples workshop,
therapy
