COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO INCREASE INTIMACY 1. Give full attention to your partner when talking. Turn off the phone, shut off the television, make eye contact. 2. Focus on the good qualities in each other and praise each other often. 3. Be assertive. Share your thoughts, feelings, and needs. A good way to be assertive without […]
Communication Exercise: Daily Dialogue and Daily Compliments
DAILY DIALOGUE AND DAILY COMPLIMENTS Daily Dialogue is an intentional effort to talk about your relationship, rather than discussing your activities that day. The focus of this dialogue should be on your feelings about each other and your lives together. Set aside five minutes per day to discuss the following: • What did you most […]
Communication Exercise: Making a Wish List
CREATING A WISH LIST In this exercise, you will each individually make a Wish List of things you would like more or less of in your relationship. Next, take turns sharing your Wish Lists with each other. Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings and ask for what you want in your relationship. Active […]
Conflict Resolution: The Rules of Taking a Timeout
One of the most significant tools couples can learn to implement into their conflict process is the time-out. Though I’m sure this term makes you think of a toddler sitting in the corner of a kitchen on their mini-stool with a parent standing over them shaking their finger, a time-out in the context of a […]
10 Steps for Resolving Conflict – Worksheet
Ten Steps for Resolving Couple Conflict Worksheet 1. Schedule a specific place, date and time to meet within the next week. Allow at least 30 minutes. Meeting Place: ____________________________________________ Date: ______________ Time: ___________________ 2. Select one important issue you would like to resolve. List the specific issue or problem for discussion below: _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 3. […]