Taking an Interest in Your Partner’s Interests
How curiosity, a little knowledge, and genuine interest can bring couples closer You don’t have to love everything your partner loves. But it can mean a great deal when you make an effort to understand.
Welcome to Our Blog!
This blog is written by the clinicians at Jonah Green and Associates, a mental health practice based in Kensington, MD that provides quality services for children, teens, families, and adults. It is intended as a resource for families who are seeking to expand their knowledge about mental health and mental health services, and also as a resource for families who are seeking quality mental health services, especially in the mid-Atlantic region.
When Even “I-Statements” Sting: Choosing Words That Help Others Hear You
Most of us have heard the recommendation: When you’re upset with someone you love, use an “I-statement.” Instead of “You never listen to me,” try to talk about your own feelings and experience. It’s good advice. But in my work as a couples and family therapist, I’ve noticed something more complicated: Not every sentence beginning
Nurturing Your Connection as a Couple Through Small Moments
Simple, Gottman-Informed Practices for Building Closeness in Everyday Life Couples often come to therapy wanting to feel close again, but they are not always sure where to begin. They may imagine reconnecting will require a week away, a perfectly planned date, or long conversations in which they finally say everything exactly right. One of the
Who Can Benefit from Couples Therapy
When Maya and Daniel came to therapy, they weren’t sure they “belonged” there. They weren’t yelling or on the brink of divorce. But they were missing something—nights of easy laughter, quiet comfort, the feeling of being on the same team. Life had become busy, conversations had grown shallow, and minor irritations filled the space where
“Reporting” Upset: Staying Connected During Conflict
Therapists, workshops, and “how-to” guides offer plenty of sound advice for improving communication: use I rather than you statements (“I feel hurt” instead of “You’re so mean”), empathize with the other’s perspective, mirror their words, be specific rather than global (“I wish you’d call when you’re late” instead of “You never think of me”), and