Thanksgiving is an emotional time. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they see only once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often. – Johnny Carson
Yes, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. For many, this thought is mixed with anxiety. As in, “oh boy, what will happen this year”?
Why does he always have to talk politics, knowing someone will be insulted? Why can’t we just get together, you know… to be *thankful*?
Oh the irony of a holiday called Thanksgiving that also somehow brings out the worst in a family. Why is this? And perhaps more importantly, what can we do about it?
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Topics:
Healthy Relationships,
Appreciation and Gratitude,
Forgiveness,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Imago Relationships
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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,
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Imago Relationships,
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Defense Mechanisms,
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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
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
There’s a brave new world for parents and therapists to navigate as they understand changing labels for teens regarding gender identity and sexual identity.
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Topics:
Sex Myths,
Managing Conflict,
Healthy Relationships,
Anxiety,
Healthy Connection,
Healthy Communication,
Gender Bias,
Emotional Connection,
Gender Identity,
Sexual Identity,
Teen Sexuality,
Teenagers,
therapy,
family therapy
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
