Communication in Relationships

Relationships and intimacy are a part of human nature, as our brains are hardwired to crave connections. However, just because we crave connection, doesn’t always mean we are successful in our relationships. An issue that tends to appear in all types of relationships is communication. Unhealthy communication styles can stem from a wide variety of experiences and/or issues and can show up in our relationships in different ways, such as: invalidation, blaming, defensiveness, aggression, criticism, interrupting, stonewalling, unsolicited advice, lack of empathy, not listening, etc.  

One way to improve unhealthy communication styles can be to implement active listening into your relationships. Active listening is a 3-step tool that can help yourself and others feel heard and validated within the relationship: 

Step 1: Mirror: If I heard you correctly you said

Step 2: Validate: That makes sense to me because

Step 3: Empathize: I imagine you feel

Active listening does not mean you agree with everything a person is saying but it does provide validation, empathy, and a sense of being heard for both people involved in a conversation. This tool can help you understand another person’s perspective, while slowing the conversation down to avoid miscommunications or unhealthy responses due to emotional dysregulation.     

Having strong, supportive relationships can help improve overall well-being and mental health. Take some time to reflect on the relationships in your life:

• Explore the ways these bonds strengthen you

• Recognize when relationships no longer serve you

• Explore what you want out of future relationships   

• How do you show up in relationships 

• Explore your own communication patterns - what would you like to do differently?   

If you are looking to improve how you show up in relationships, reach out and book a free consult to learn how our team of trained therapists can best support you!