- Biography
- Counseling Services
- Blog
- Text Me
- Contact
Phases of the Negative Cascade – Contempt
If the criticisms within a relationship are not addressed, the interaction between the two partners may lead to contempt. This stage of the negative cascade is seen when there is an attempt to insult your partner, as in, “You’re just a pig around the house and I don’t know how I could ever have loved you.” Contemptuous remarks go right …
Phases of the Negative Cascade – Criticism
Criticism involves attacking your partner’s personality or character, not just his or her behavior. There is usually an element of blame in the attack. Criticizing your partner leads to defensiveness and may encourage your partner to withdraw from you – after all, if your partner feels blamed because of a personality flaw, it would be difficult thing to repair. A …
Negative Relationship Behaviors – The Negative Cascade
A relationship in trouble is one that falls into a negative cascade. One negative reaction leads to the next until there is a seemingly insurmountable wall between the two partners. Relationships that enter this destructive phase need attention and can benefit from the trustworthy, confidential intervention of a professional therapist. Sometimes the two partners fail to notice when they have …
Positive Interactions in Relationships
What are positive interactions? They are found in – Showing interest in what your partner is saying, – Expressing affection to your partner both verbally (“I love you”) and nonverbally (holding hands, doing kind little things), – Showing you care – perhaps by making a phone call during the day or bringing home flowers, – Showing appreciation by remembering the …
Staying Together – Commitment & Relationships
When we make a commitment to our partner, our usual expectation is that our relationship will last for life and that our love will see us through the inevitable hard times. Yet, when reality sinks in, we have to acknowledge that while love is one of the components of a relationship’s longevity, it really takes more to make it through …
Social Anxiety & Developing your Conversational Skills
Anyone can master the art of having good conversations with others. Those who are shy or socially anxious may see this as an unattainable goal, but with enough practice, and using the right techniques, it can enhance the quality of social life. The first skill to acquire is making eye contact. Shy people may avoid eye contact at all costs, …
Change your Anxious Behaviors
The single most important strategy for overcoming social anxiety is to face your fear. Get back on the horse again. Take the car out for a drive once more. Go swimming again. Get back on an airplane. Give another speech before an audience. Go to another dinner party. Ask somebody else to go out on a date. Managing your physical …
Developing a Plan for Building a Strong Family
Some people believe that their families are too troubled to change. They feel that their families bring out the worst in each other and that they are plagued with insurmountable problems. They feel hopeless about changing their family life. However, many strong families have emerged from this place of despair, often in the face of a family crisis, to achieve …
Healthy and Unhealthy Boundaries in Relationships – Some Examples
Learning to have healthy boundaries is an exciting adventure, an exercise in personal liberation. When two people with healthy boundaries enter into a relationship, they can find true intimacy as whole, complete and equal people. Here are some examples of healthy and unhealthy relationship boundaries Healthy boundaries in relationships Unhealthy boundaries in relationships Feeling like your …
Successful Relationships: Develop Healthy Boundaries
Good fences make good neighbors – Robert Frost Learning to have healthy boundaries is an exciting adventure, an exercise in personal liberation. It means coming to know ourselves and increasing our awareness of what we stand for. It also means self-acceptance and knowing that we are OK as we are and worthy of the good things in life. When two …
Follow Us
