Methods of Communication in Marriage Counseling
There are a myriad of ways we communicate with people every day, whether its through our body language or through our words. And it doesn’t stop there. Lack of communication can be a form of a communication. Silence counts. In marriage counseling, couples learn new ways to communicate about their relationships that are generally more effective.
Reactivity often serves as an impediment when it comes to communicating properly. We all know the feeling: something your partner said made your angry or upset. Instead of listening to the rest of their opinion, you silently wait, forming a response in your head. It is then, at that very moment, communication ceases.
Receptivity is the key. Being relaxed and open while your partner speaks allows for smoother communication. And most of us know this. So what makes it so hard to practice it, then?
Our egos get in the way. We want to be right. We want to win. We don’t want to feel like the “loser” in an argument. We don’t want to be blamed. It seems as if a little child is running the show, and in a sense, it probably is!
The little child inside of you doesn’t want to feel badly. But if you can take a step back and remember that no matter what your partner says, it doesn’t change who you are essentially, you’ll begin moving in the right direction.
One word of advice? Breathe. Remember to breathe during a heated interaction with your partner. That simple step alone can often ground you, diffuse your reactive side and remind you that, no matter what, you’re a good person and you want to mend with your partner.
Related Posts
- Learning the Basics of Communication via Marriage Counseling
- Counselors, Therapists and Methods
- The Assumptions of Communication in Couples Counseling
- Non Verbal Communication and Counseling for Couples
- Pre-Marital Counseling for Communication
