High-conflict, emotionally reactive couples are on the rise. In today’s charged world, many of us are seeing more couples who escalate quickly, struggle with emotional dysregulation, and arrive in therapy not to grow but to push for their partner’s change. These dynamics can easily pull clinicians off balance – especially early in treatment when patterns […]| Couples Institute
A simple visual to help couples understand and break up the pattern of conflict without shame or shutdown. What if your couples could actually see the roles they play in conflict? Not in theory. Not in ways that raise defenses. But in a way that works for the nervous system and opens the door to […]| Couples Institute
All couples engage in some conflict when they’re in therapy. But some can’t seem to manage themselves for even a few minutes without exploding into rage, resentment, blame – or dissolving in tears. Why Volatile Couples Present Unique Challenges in Therapy If you’re treating a volatile couple, their repetitive, heated responses to your questions lead […]| Couples Institute
They say the right tool makes all the difference. But what if the tool you’re using wasn’t designed for the job? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are good frameworks. They're structured. They make easy sense. They help organize thinking, track patterns, and offer concrete strategies. But if you’ve ever tried to […]| Couples Institute
It’s frustrating when a couple seeks your help — and then resists every effort you make. I’ve been there, and you have too – possibly too many times to count. And in a lot of these situations, we’re seeing a couple whose relationship is filled with passive aggressive behavior. Today we’ll explore specific ways to […]| Couples Institute
When couples come in after an affair is revealed, the presenting issue is often labeled simply: infidelity. But what sits underneath that word is much more complex – and much more painful. It’s not just about sex. It’s not only about deception. It’s about a unilateral decision to blow up what was previously a mutual […]| Couples Institute
Once again, I am on a plane with some time to write. I’m glad to complete part two of the Networker Conference highlights for you. I’ll start with the workshop I presented on Infidelity, then summarize a keynote panel on Therapy in a Polarized World, and also two clinical workshops demonstrating therapy unfold in real […]| Couples Institute
I recently sat in my office listening to a couple named Bill and Sally describe twenty years of conflict avoidance and intimacy avoidance. Their communication was packed with vague unspecified references and overflowing with examples of passivity. I thought, “Some couples work so very hard to avoid any intensity. Will Bill and Sally allow me […]| Couples Institute
When working with couples within The Developmental Model, it’s crucial to help partners set self-focused, individual goals to support the process of differentiation. This presents more of a challenge with some couples than with others. I’m thinking in particular about conflict-avoidant couples. These are couples who likely have developed well-established patterns of shying away from […]| Couples Institute
In my last post, I shared 4 key insights that can help you lay the groundwork for counseling couples who shy away from conflict. In looking at the challenges posed by this pattern, it’s clear that conflict avoidance reveals itself in many ways. Your first clue may be the long, tense silences that follow when […]| Couples Institute
The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique is a simple, sensory-based mindfulness practice that helps kids feel calm, present, and in control. It...| ClimbRx®
Money is one of the hardest topics for people to talk about in a relationship. During a health crisis, practicing good money habits isn’t at the front of anyone’s mind. But, in times of uncertainty, it’s one of the most important conversations couples should have after a major health situation occurs. 27 million people were uninsured for health coverage … The post Managing Financial Stress During a Health Event appeared first on Money Habitudes.| Money Habitudes
by Emma Seppälä, Christina Bradley, Michael R. Goldstein When U.S. Marine Corp Officer Jake D.’s vehicle drove over an explosive device in Afghanistan, he looked down to see his legs almost completely severed below the knee. At that moment, he remembered a breathing exercise he had learned in a book for young officers. Thanks to that exercise, he […]| Westside DBT
February 26, 2021 • By Angela Bisignano, PhD, Psychologist 7 Simple Practices for Greater Well-Being in 2021 Many people start the year with the best intentions for new goals and resolutions. January is a great month to reflect, refresh and reset. Did you make space for your well-being in your goals for this new year? If not, this article will […]| Westside DBT
The first therapeutic assessment in my record, from July 2021, reads: “47 y.o. M with history of trauma and anxiety, with symptoms of PTSD, GAD, and depression.” In other words, some of this and so…| BruceAshford.net
Engaging and innovative financial education curriculum with a focus on the psychology of money and behavioral economics helps teens with personal finances and relationships.| Money Habitudes