As we head toward the 2020 election, the buzz of political tension seems to be all around us — on the news, in our social media feeds, and in our day-to-day conversations with friends, family, and colleagues. Not surprisingly, we therapists are hearing more and more about clients’ struggles to communicate productively with those in
Read more
“The scars you can’t see are the hardest to heal.” Astrid Alauda Are you in an emotionally abusive relationship? Emotional (or psychological) abuse differs from physical abuse in the sense there are no outward signs, thus, making it more difficult to recognize. In this post we will unpack what emotional abuse DOES NOT look like
Read more
Summer always brings with it an influx of new couple clients, and I’ve noticed that there seems to be a trend in what these new couples are bringing to therapy. Perhaps because summer opens up some free time and creates a sense that we should get things done that we’ve been putting off, I see
Read more
“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is that we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.” Roy T. Bennett What is effective communication? Effective communication
Read moreCouple Therapy Sterling VA One of the most interesting things I observe as a couple and family therapist is how societal dynamics play out on the micro-level in relationships. Recently, I’ve been struck by the frequency with which I observe “whataboutism” on my couch, and I can’t help but notice that this is similar to
Read more
Couples Therapy Sterling VA As an early step in almost every couples therapy process, I spend time talking with my clients about how to effectively communicate empathy. The vast majority of couples come into therapy with the goal of improving communication, but many have a hard time articulating exactly what it is about the way they
Read more
Couples Therapy Sterling VA If you’ve been in a relationship for any length of time, I’m sure you can think of ways that your partner “pushes your buttons,” or activates emotional reactivity in you. Couples frequently tell me about ways that they touch a nerve, push a button, or poke at a soft spot in their
Read more
