As we celebrate caregivers in our lives, now is an appropriate time to reflect on the influence of significant caregivers, attachment styles, parenting practices, and how this impacts adult attachment.
As adult children move away from dependance on their primary attachment figure and form other significant intimate relationships, we learn more about ourselves, our relational needs, and how to communicate in ways that help us feel understood, seen, and loved in relationships.
Attunement is key as a basis for building trust. This involves awareness, turning towards your partner, tolerance, understanding…
Setting healthy boundaries is an important life skill yet knowing HOW to set healthy boundaries can be difficult, especially at first.
Speaking up for yourself can be challenging at times, especially if you are not exactly sure what you want or need from your relationship. A good starting point is checking in with what you are thinking and feeling.
How have your observations of others’ behavior shaped your current ways of interacting? When one observes behavior and then imitates the behavior, they are modeling the behavior. Albert Bandura, a well-known social cognitive psychologist suggests that observation and modeling are primary aspects of social learning.
Dr. Gray Chapman, author of the 5 Love Languages now has a tool to help you discover your Apology Language.
Just like we have a preferred way of giving and receiving love, it makes sense that that we also have a preferred way of repairing ruptures in relationships through apology.
While these are gestures to help you and/or the person you hurt feel better, it does not directly acknowledge the offense.
Relational problems associated with family upbringing or one’s primary support group are common stressors that come up in therapy, especially for those seeking strategies and support around conflict-resolution.
Can you think of a recent conversation in which you felt judged, bullied, blamed, or criticized by your partner? Do you find yourself becoming defensive within communication or reacting in anger during difficult conversations, only to feel more disconnected and dissatisfied in your relationship(s)?
