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!
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
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!
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
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
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.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
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!
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
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”.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
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.
1 Comment Click here to read/write comments
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
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.
4 Comments Click here to read/write comments
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
I caught the Tidying Up with Marie Kondo bug. Like so many, my family and I were enthralled by her Netflix series (now we have a garage full of giveaway bags). On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert asked her why she thought so many Americans were captivated by her show. “People want to unclutter their hearts,” she responded. You can watch the segment here.
The series goes into the homes of families who feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by their stuff. Like magic, Marie steps in and transforms their lives with the KonMari Method, not only tidying up their homes but their intimate relationships. As a marriage and family therapist and certified Imago therapist who specializes in couples, this caught my eye. Imago Therapy is a relational modality that focuses on intimate partnership.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Family Culture, Healthy Relationships, Decluttering Your Life, Stress Relief, Healthy Communication, Imago Relationships, Relationship Vision, Intentional Dialogue, Tidying Up
As an Imago therapist, I often see couples struggling in the area of connecting vs. communicating with each other. Communication can be very different from connecting with your loved ones if you are not in a conscious relationship.
In a recent conversation I had with
Harville Hendrix
he shared his insight on the topic. I understood Harville to say that
couples come into therapy
hoping to improve their communication skills when what they
really want is to improve their connecting
skills.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Healthy Relationships, Relationship Therapy, Couples Therapy, Healthy Connection, Healthy Communication, Human Connection, Imago Relationships, Relationship Vision, couples workshop, therapy