Online articles about improving relationships provided by Bill Herring LCSW, Atlanta couples and marriage counselor.
When couples come to counseling, at least one person will complain about the "poor communication" in the relationship. This article debunks some of the myths and misconceptions about "poor communication" and examines some of the common sources, varieties and challenges of the communication difficulties couple are likely to face.
A large part of my therapy practice involves the rewarding work of helping couples resolve many different types of relationship problems that are often very difficult for them to work through on their own. I’ve often observed that even highly sophisticated, self-aware and sensitive individuals get stuck in unproductive styles of communication and conflict resolution, often because they don’t put into practice a simple concept that turns any interpersonal struggle into an opportunity to enhance intimacy, insight and emotional well-being. Learn more about it now!
Couples in crisis often struggle to communicate effectively, often getting stuck in recriminations, defensiveness, accusations and other barriers to achieving mutual understanding and true conflict resolution. John Gray's "Love Letter" technique is a simple and effective way to insure that the full range of emotions one person feels for another will be expressed in an organized and comprehensive manner that often leads to more productive communication than can be achieved by attempts to "talk it out".
There are four types of denial of responsibility that prevent a person from healing a relationship that has been harmed. The denials of fact, impact, accountability and change can be more devastating than the original transgression.
Infidelity in a relationship is a devastating blow to trust. Just how long does it take to recover from the damage caused by extramarital sexual involvement?
Often when trying to work through a difficult issue with a person who is upset, the message you are trying to convey gets lost in hurt feelings and misunderstanding, which is frustrating for everyone. In my counseling practice I often recommend an easy-to-remember technique that's effective to use in difficult situations when emotions are high. It's known as the “SET” model of communication, which stands for "Support, Empathy, Truth.' It's easy to learn and effective to use!
Many people think that intimacy means two people feeling emotionally close to one another, or sharing private time together, or being sexual with each other. Read this article to learn the underlying basis for true intimacy, which is the lifeblood of healthy and vibrant relationships.
The "Five Languages of Love" can be a very useful way to examine communication styles in relationships and find ways in which two people may unintentionally inhibit the love and affection between them from being expressed. This can lead to confusion and frustration that could be avoided with more conscious use of individual preferences in love languages. Read this article to discover the language style you most (and least) appreciate and express!
One of the essential skills of a truly mature human being is the ability to apologize for the inevitable transgressions of life. A fully accountable apology contains several crucial components that most people omit. Although engaging all of these components takes great personal character, the results are often profound personal and relational healing.
No matter what kind of relationship problems a couple is experiencing, there is one question that I've found goes a long way toward identifying the type of couples counseling that will be necessary to provide the healing and growth that will be required.
