Conflict Avoidant Couple

Principles & Techniques for Working with Conflict Avoidant Couples

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In my last post, I shared 4 key insights that can help you lay the groundwork for counseling couples who shy away from conflict. In looking at

Understanding the Hidden Dangers of Conflict Avoidance

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You’ve seen the pattern before. A couple comes to you, seeking help with tension that they just can’t understand or resolve. As you’re working to build openness

Conflict avoidance comes in many forms.

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Conflict avoidance comes in many forms. Do you recognize these? 1. Some couples avoid so many issues that you feel enormous tension just sitting in the room

Working with Couples Who Are Stuck – How The Developmental Model Helps You

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As relationships grow and develop, we often see couples who have gotten stuck in a particular developmental stage. When you approach couples therapy from a developmental framework,

Tough Couple Challenge: Do You Take On Too Much Responsibility?

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A few weeks ago, Dr. Peter Pearson and I were talking with fellow therapists about a pattern we’ve all fallen into at one time or another. Pete

Building Effective Collaboration with a Highly Anxious Client

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A common scenario that many of us see in our practices is the over-functioning wife with the anxious-avoidant husband. He is a highly anxious procrastinator and is

Peace at Any Price: The Conflict Avoidant Couple

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When couples are in the symbiotic-symbiotic stage of their relationship, it’s often characterized by “peace at any price.” While minimizing differences and building a strong bond early

Searching for Intimacy and Aliveness

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Here is the transcript I promised you in my most recent blog post, “Moving Couples Through Defense and Ambivalence Toward Intimacy.” In that blog post I said