Emotionally focused therapy can be understood from a bioecological perspective. Key points Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory emphasizes the influence of bidirectional interactions between the person, their context, and time, as well as the proximal processes of interaction between these different variables and the developing individual. Proximal processes are seen as the “engines of development,” the mostContinue reading “Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy”
Category Archives: blog
Why Does Couples Therapy Work?
The 3 mechanisms of change, according to research. Key points Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, Relational Life Therapy, Intimacy From the Inside Out Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, Psychodynamic Couples Therapy… The list goes on and on. It can be challenging to choose a method of couples therapy whenContinue reading “Why Does Couples Therapy Work?”
“Stop Trying to Fix It” and What to Do Instead
These hidden needs may require addressing before offering solutions. Key points Have you ever felt caught in this pattern? You come home from a long day of work and try to vent to your partner, but they end up throwing solutions at you when all that you really want them to do is listen. OrContinue reading ““Stop Trying to Fix It” and What to Do Instead”
How to Live: What the Dying Tell Us
The top regrets of the dying and how we can use them to live better lives. Key points Bronnie Ware, a hospice nurse, asked the dying what they regretted most. While it may have been too late for her patients, their answers can tell us about how we should be living while we still haveContinue reading “How to Live: What the Dying Tell Us”
Keeping Your In-Laws Out of Your Relationship
How to validate your partner without bashing your parent. Key points One of the most common problems I see as a couples therapist is trouble with the in-laws. In fact, 75% of couples report having problems with an in-law. It can be hard enough to deal with your own parents, let alone your partner’s parents, who mayContinue reading “Keeping Your In-Laws Out of Your Relationship”
How to Deal With Holiday Resentment
The art of firm yet gentle communication. Key Points: We all know the warm, cozy feeling that a Christmas song brings. And…a lot of us also know the annoyance that comes with hearing “Jingle Bells” for the third day in a row. The holidays are often an experience of many mixed emotions—joy, irritation, sadness, anxiety. AContinue reading “How to Deal With Holiday Resentment”
What to Look for in a Long-Term Partner
Key Points: It’s funny the way human attraction works. And kind of sad. We look at a photo on a dating profile or gaze across the room at a stranger at a bar; we may evaluate height and attraction; we look at their clothes and unconsciously make a guess about their social positioning. We get to talkingContinue reading “What to Look for in a Long-Term Partner”
How to Handle Political Differences in Your Relationships
Turn the volume up on curiosity, and turn it down on defensiveness. We are tied to our beliefs, and the more opposition we run up against, often, the stronger these beliefs become. How do you feel when someone implies that your political beliefs are “wrong?” If you’re like most people, it fuels the fire withinContinue reading “How to Handle Political Differences in Your Relationships”
How to Get More Commitment and Better Your Sex Life
Want commitment? Work on your sex life. Want a better sex life? Get committed. Key Points: In what way are sex and commitment in a relationship related? Some say that marriage kills sex, while others report that sex gets better after the commitment of marriage. Still others advise that a good sex life leads to a healthy bond, andContinue reading “How to Get More Commitment and Better Your Sex Life”
Sick of the Apps? 3 Tips for Better Dating
If you’re feeling burnt out on dating apps, it’s okay to take a break. Key Points: Swiping, scrolling, chatting. Another meetup at another bar. Another person asks about your hobbies, your musical taste, your siblings, and where you’re from. It’s enough to make anyone snore, even if you’re sipping a triple espresso as you lookContinue reading “Sick of the Apps? 3 Tips for Better Dating”