Communication Skills
Building essential speaking and listening skills
Responding When Your Partner is Upset: Lead with Empathy
Empathy is essential for building and maintaining a healthy relationship. By understanding and validating your partner’s emotions—even during conflict—you create emotional safety, strengthen trust, and deepen intimacy. Empathy helps couples repair damage, reduce defensiveness, and stay connected, even when they disagree.
What to Say: Preparing Your Responses for Tough Situations
Responding well in high-pressure situations is something we can prepare for by planning good responses in advance. Our objective should be to advocate for ourselves without attacking, minimizing, or blaming the other person.
Developing Empathy and Patience: The Importance of Gentleness in Relationships
Gentleness is being patient, kind, and respectful in our interactions with others, creating more trust and stronger relationships with them.
Nonviolent Communication – Part 2: Listening with Empathy
Listening with empathy is about being present with the speaker, understanding their feelings, and responding with compassion. It is a powerful way to connect with others and build meaningful relationships.
Nonviolent Communication – Part 1: Getting Needs Met Without a Fight
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a way of communicating that focuses on empathy, compassion, and understanding. It is a powerful tool for resolving conflict and building strong relationships.
Active Listening: How to Reduce Conflict and Help Your Partner Feel Heard
Nick and Lauren were at an impasse. Whenever they discussed topics they disagreed on, the conversation quickly disintegrated into an argument, each talking over the other. Their marriage counselor recommended they both invest some time into improving their listening...
Mastering Difficult Conversations: How to Talk Through What Really Matters
Tiffany and Ryan were at an impasse. Tiffany wanted them to sell their cute but small home and buy something bigger for their growing family. Ryan disagreed—to him, the higher mortgage payment just meant more financial stress and sacrificing other priorities like...
Conflict Resolution through Assertive Communication: Building Better Relationships
Assertive communication is a way of expressing yourself clearly and directly, while still being respectful of others. It can be helpful in a variety of situations, such as negotiating, giving feedback, and setting boundaries.
How Emotions Affect Communication: Strategies and Tips for Effective Communication
Effective communication requires good emotional control. By identifying and soothing our emotions, we can maintain constructive dialogue and avoid letting negative feelings derail our interactions.
Rebuilding Trust: an Effective Apology after Domestic Violence or Abuse
An apology for domestic violence must go beyond saying ‘sorry.’ It should include acknowledging the wrongdoing, showing sincere regret, and outlining concrete steps to prevent future incidents.