by Harper West | Aug 26, 2021 | Relationships
One of my local radio stations has a morning show feature called Dealbreakers, where they have one person call in to complain about a partner and seek advice about whether this complaint is a dealbreaker worth ending the relationship over. I heard one show...
by Harper West | Aug 17, 2021 | Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, Relationships
Jordan and Roxann had been in couples therapy on and off for about six months and had made many improvements, but they still sometimes struggled with communication. Their latest conflict can provide insights into how to REALLY improve communication in your...
by Harper West | Oct 23, 2017 | Relationships
What to Expect in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples Entering couple therapy can be a nerve-wracking experience for most people. They often expect that it will turn into an arguing match and make things worse, or fear that the therapist will choose sides and pass...
by Harper West | Sep 6, 2016 | Conflict Avoidance, Relationships
I recently saw a male client who was upset about his wife’s possible affair. She had been staying out drinking on weeknights until 1 am, leaving him with the kids. For years she had also been under-functioning in the home, so that he had to do most of the childcare...
by Harper West | Apr 3, 2016 | Emotions, Relationships
Fear isn’t just about physical danger. Emotional fear can look a lot like anger. But relationships do not thrive in anger or fear. People who behave with fear, generate fear in others. People who behave with love, generate love in others. Think about your...
by Harper West | Jul 20, 2015 | Relationships
I had a patient describe her husband as someone who bites his tongue for days about an issue, then becomes angry at her out of the blue. I said: “Oh, he is afraid of conflict,” and she looked at me quizzically. “But he gets angry and we fight. He seems to like...
