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Effective Communication Strategy for Your Marriage

Author: Peter Pearson, Ph.D.

Houston We Have a Problem! 

If astronauts went to Mars, it would take up to 20 minutes to transmit a message to mission control in Houston, and 20 minutes more for them to receive a response from mission control. That’s a 40-minute time lag!

“Mayday Mayday! Mission control, our left fuel tank blew up!”

40 minutes later…

“Roger that. Turn down the right fuel tank by 20%, follow section 5 of the manual and whatever you do, DO NOT shut down the engine!”

Another 40 minutes later…

“Houston, we shut the engine down… The right fuel tank exploded, and the manual went with it because Charlie forgot to do his job and put it back where it belonged! Now what?”

Communication “Lag Time” Isn’t a Bad Thing

It’s clear why Astronauts haven’t made it to Mars yet. In an emergency where every second counts, this time lag can be detrimental to the astronauts’ survival. On the other hand, I find time lag to be a beneficial approach to use with the couples I help. As the calm and neutral middleman, it is my job to provide a safe environment with ground rules that will encourage couples to communicate effectively, instead of reacting immediately to one another with thoughtless, hurtful words out of anger.

Here’s how it works. Let’s say we are revisiting a fight a couple had last week. I have one partner be the astronaut on Mars sending the first message and the other as Mission Control. This means there will be a time lag before they get to respond to each other.

The partner who goes first (the wife in this scenario), usually says something critical about their partner. I tell the husband that he has to wait to respond in the amount of time of my choosing (it’s really subjective). I just want them both to wait.

While the husband is waiting to speak, I say to the wife, “Your husband is probably wondering how to respond. He’s likely listing all the ways you’re wrong in his head. Or maybe, he’s wondering if he should take the high ground and ask about your concerns. What path do you think he’ll take? Maybe he’ll express how he is feeling instead of a defensive rebuttal.”

Even though I am addressing the wife, I am actually talking to the husband. Having to wait before responding, combined with hearing me list out the ways he could respond, not only slows down the conversation, it helps the husband to choose a better way to respond. After he responds, the wife then has to wait, and I will have the same discussion with the husband.

A Healthier Approach to Relationship Communication

This method works immediately for some couples, yet for others, it takes a few rounds before they truly communicate in a healthier way. Once the pace and tone of the conversation improve, I encourage and compliment them. “You guys are pretty good communicators when you slow it down. You guys do a pretty good job!” This enables the couple to have a new perspective on their communication and will hopefully inspire them to continue to practice this healthier approach to disagreements.

What strategies do you use to moderate or de-escalate an argument in your relationship? 

If you ever feel like you’re struggling to communicate effectively in your relationship, don’t be afraid to reach out to a couples counselor for support. We have a network of trained and licensed couples counselors available around the country to support every type of relationship. At Grow My Relationship, we believe your relationship with your partner is the most important one in your life and is worth working on. 

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The inclusion of a practitioner in this directory is not an endorsement by Grow My Relationship, The Couples Institute, or Strategic Marketing LLC.
 
Grow My Relationship only accepts practitioners into the directory who have met the clinical/coaching training prerequisites and have completed the minimum of the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy training program.

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Coach

A relationship coach supports couples in learning vital partnership skills and helps you to develop conflict resolution skills, offering tools to achieve a thriving, healthy relationship. Coaches tend to focus on the present and creating an inspired future.

All well-trained relationship specialists seek to offer advice, feedback, observations, and homework to help your relationship evolve. Therapists and counselors have mandatory educational and licensing requirements that are determined by the state or country in which they practice. Coaches do not.

Clinical Social Worker
All well-trained relationship specialists seek to offer advice, feedback, observations, and homework to help your relationship evolve.

This profession usually requires two years of study after obtaining an undergraduate degree. While specific licensure requirements vary by state, most require clinical social workers to obtain 3,000 hours or 2 years of supervised clinical experience, after obtaining a Masters degree. Social workers can also specialize in diverse fields such as human services management, social welfare analysis, community organizing, social and community development, and social and political research.

As you know, this is not an easy task when you and your partner are struggling to communicate, cooperate, and connect. This is where a highly trained guide is especially valuable.

Marriage and Family Therapist/Counselor (LMFT)
All well-trained relationship specialists seek to offer advice, feedback, observations, and homework to help your relationship evolve. 

Therapists and counselors have mandatory educational and licensing requirements that are determined by the state or country in which they practice. Obtaining this license requires a Masters degree which takes approximately two years of post graduate study. The license also requires 3000 hours of supervised work and passing written exams.

Counselors and therapists may make situational determinations about how deep to go into the personal history of each partner. They may seek to help you see where certain unhelpful patterns of behavior originated. 

Clinical Psychologist
All well-trained relationship specialists seek to offer advice, feedback, observations, and homework to help your relationship evolve.

After graduating from college, it usually takes about five years of graduate school to get a Ph.D. in Psychology. It then requires an additional two years of supervision and passing a written (and often) an oral exam. There are a few states that allow psychologists to prescribe medications (with additional training) but that is uncommon.

Our professionals can guide you to clarify your individual goals as well as enable you to develop mutually agreed upon and supported relationship goals.

Psychiatrist
All well-trained relationship specialists seek to offer advice, feedback, observations, and homework to help your relationship evolve.

After graduation from medical school, there is a generally a 4-year psychiatric residency. After the completion of this training, psychiatrists must pass an exam issued by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to obtain certification and legally practice in the field. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications.

Our professionals can guide you to clarify your individual goals as well as enable you to develop mutually agreed upon and supported relationship goals.

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