If we were to ask you what goes into making a healthy relationship, what would you say? A quick Google search reveals the following: curiosity, trust, communication, empathy, affection, patience, respect, and honesty…just to list a few.
Many of you have likely seen “The Break-Up” starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. The famous fighting scene shows the couple bantering back and forth about everything that the other does that upsets them, specifically things that aren’t brought up when they are seen.
From time to time, I couples who see some small improvements in their relationship and decide to quit counseling right after, thinking that they have accomplished the goals that they came to achieve. They feel like they are communicating better or listening to each other better.
Makes sense that some people would want to discontinue marriage counseling or couples counseling. But….it’s important to be aware that this is still too early to graduate from therapy.
Therapists often try to warn couples that despite seeing small changes (and things being a little bit better) that continuation is necessary to make the new habits and practices truly stick.
Just the other day, I was speaking with a friend of mine about how difficult it is to find a good therapist that takes their insurance and has openings in the near future. This is an issue for many people who are seeking out counseling, and in many cases, discourages them from looking any further.
Therapy classes, workshops, and groups are extremely beneficial and effective. However…
The first thing that comes out of people’s mouths immediately after they learn about the hows and whys of EFT is simple: “More people should know about this!”
With this article, we want to spread the word about how Emotionally Focused Therapy works.
On September 26, one of the most underrated holidays is celebrated: Love Note Day. As the name indicates, it includes sending love letters (a little more on the corny side) to your significant other and showing your affection in many different ways. Whether this means a short and simple note or a long and heartfelt letter, it is always nice to feel like you are appreciated and loved.
Many people believe that if they simply communicate better in a relationship, then the relationship will automatically improve as well. However, this is not entirely true. Others say that you need specific communication skills for a healthy relationship.
This problem with communication is not an acquisition issue, rather, it is an access issue. In other words, developing communication skills isn’t what is needed in the situation. One must simply use the ability to communicate effectively, which is already owned.
But when you are in a fight or disagreement with your partner, you likely are not in your prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for more complex actions (like planning and forethought).
It is extremely important for you to know and understand your attachment style because it supplies you with insight into why you respond the way you do to perceived emotional disengagement. Now, that sure is a mouthful isn’t it? However, it’s quite easy to understand and catch on to.
You and your partner are in an okay place, but you’d like to connect just a bit more. Since therapy doesn’t seem to be needed, you think a couples retreat would be just the thing. Except….your partner wont’ go!
So pop quiz, hotshot…you want to learn more about relationships but your partner won’t go. What do you do? What do you do? (See what we did there!)
You may believe the common misconception that couples workshops are only for couples to attend. However, this is the complete opposite of the truth. One partner can attend a workshop! In addition, there are benefits to single people attending a couples workshop as well. So you don’t even need to be in a relationship to attend.
You may be contemplating the idea of attending one of our workshops. Additionally, you may be hesitant or nervous to attend because you are unsure of what the workshop will be like or not knowing what to expect.
However, these workshops and classes often times have a positive impact and provide great value to those who attend them. It is also a good opportunity for you and your loved ones to meet with others who have similar struggles and experiences.
Now, you may be wondering: What is the idea behind these Hold Me Tight® workshops that I see all over this website?
These workshops are designed to help couples of all stages of relationship reach desired attachment and emotional accessibility. Additionally, the program helps both partners become more emotionally responsive and engaging with each other. This means that you can make the most of your time together as a couple.