I’ve counseled a number of newer clients lately who are getting overwhelmed at home and work because they don’t know how to say “no” very easily. It’s usually people who are high on the Agreeableness personality trait that have the hardest time saying no. In other words they say “Yes” when they need to say […]
Category: communication
When I work with couples, I often ask them how they would deal with the same situation they are having with their spouse if it was a coworker instead. We have a tendency to be more kind, patient and diplomatic when addressing problems with our coworkers. We tend to think, “I have to work with […]
I’ve been watching some of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard court situation. It’s interesting to listen to some of the recordings being provided, which they have both apparently provided. As I listen to these recordings, my impression is Amber shifts her statements and fails to stay on topic. She adjusts what she is […]
Quite often in my counseling practice, I tell my clients to do something that sounds counterintuitive. I tell couples to start arguments. However, I tell them to start an argument over something fun, such as which ice cream flavor is best. I have them do these practice arguments using strategies we discuss in marriage counseling. […]
I often provide counseling for men and women individually. I get to hear a lot of their concerns and complaints about what happens when their relationships go sour. Both sexes seem to have their own set of grievances. And in my counseling for men, there are some things that come up quite frequently. Here are […]
I work with many couples in my Grand Rapids counseling practice. One of the big issues that comes up is communication. You’ve probably heard this before but we all have a tendency to talk over each other and not really listen. Instead, we’re waiting for them to stop talking so we can say what we […]
Getting Respect from others is something everybody strives for. We want to be respected for what we bring to the table. Or we at least want to be treated with respect and courtesy. You have to give in order to receive, but what do you do if you don’t get respect in return. People Engage […]
Counseling for Anxiety is one of the main things that therapists provide. So the good news is that if you have anxiety, you’re in good company. There are many different strategies that help with anxiety. Below, I will discuss one of the strategies. Anxiety as a Mental Construct Anxiety often comes about because of our […]
Communication in marriage is a keystone necessity. Good communication with your spouse is an essential tool for staying connected and resolving problems so they don’t take over your marriage. I was meeting with a couple today for marriage counseling and they told me a story that I thought had an amazingly good strategy. They gave […]
Okay, kind of a misleading title because if you set out to “win” an argument you aren’t likely to get very far. I’ve seen a lot of arguments lately on facebook and other places. People take a side on an issue and take the stance that anyone who disagrees with them is just plain wrong. […]