Black History Month has come to an end and we are moving into Women’s History Month. In the US, almost every month is designated to particular issues or populations that deserve our attention. During these months, we are invited to learn more about that issue or population, to raise our awareness about how people in that category feel, think, or live, and to hold more sensitivity towards that issue or population in our words and actions. 

During our recent CareWeek annual program, our very own Clinical Director, Toya Foster facilitated a webinar on this topic of strengthening BIPOC relationships.  If you missed that webinar, here is a recap of what she presented.   

Did you know that building positivity in your relationships does not take huge effort and pays off better than tackling the difficult stuff in relationships? Most of us tend to wait until a close relationship (with a friend, a child, or a partner) is stuck in conflict before we seek professional help.  It makes sense that we would try on our own before we spend time and money getting therapy. Therapy can be stressful work – requiring a new level of vulnerability and honesty from participants –  but therapy can help a lot. However, Gottman research also supports a less arduous practice for positive relationship building: Small Things Often!

Many families work the “What are you thankful for?” conversation into their annual Thanksgiving meal, with answers ranging from groans to jokes to earnest sharing – and responses from the family running a similar gamut, hopefully in the supportive vein. 

Though it may seem hokey, psychological research gives reason to believe that sharing good news is just as important to your close relationships as supporting each other through the hard times!

Couples retreats have emerged as a popular means of escaping the chaos and focusing on the well-being of your partnership. These immersive experiences are designed to provide couples with an opportunity to learn, grow, and deepen their connection in a supportive and rejuvenating environment.

Read my story about how I found Gottman Method couples therapy and learn what makes it different from other relationship psychology methods.

In couples therapy, one of the hardest thing to turn around is resentment. Why is that? It is because resentment, unlike almost any other emotion, is corrosive and insidious. Resentment damages the person who feels it as well as the person it is directed towards. Here are some reasons why.