5 Strategies to Improve Your Relationship

As a psychologist, I’ve worked with couples and clients dealing with relationship challenges. As a partner, nearing 25 years of marriage, I’ve faced these challenges myself. However, there are real strategies you can implement to make lasting relationship improvements. Here are 5 to consider.

Emotions are NOT the enemy, yes even so-called “negative emotions”.

Even if a so-called “negative” emotion is showing up in our experience, e.g., sadness, anger, loneliness, et cetera the feeling is typically there for a reason. Instead of pushing on it with resistence or even trying to avoid it (insert your favorite dopamine hit here), can you turn toward it with a bit of curiosity and ask it, “I notice I’m feeling ____, what are you trying to tell me?”

More Limitations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) + Venting

I recently posted about some of the limitations found in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). More limitations were surfaced in a new study on the effects of venting as a strategy to reduce anger. What did the researchers find? “…the review also sheds important light on an alternate pathway for defusing fury. What’s more, standard cognitive …