by Jenny TeGrotenhuis | May 16, 2020 | Heart & Mind, Relationships
John and Shannon brought their tattered marriage to therapy, to see if they could salvage it from an affair. Right away, we discovered they had a deep habitual communication pattern. John had a veneer of sweetness that we decided to call the “chill dude.” He liked to...
by Jenny TeGrotenhuis | Feb 10, 2020 | Dating, Heart & Mind, Relationships
“Healthy communication is the lifeblood of love. A relationship will only be as good as its communication.” Gary Smalley Our motivations (or goals) drive our messages, which are also highly driven by the levels of soothing or stress we feel in...
by Jenny TeGrotenhuis | Sep 8, 2019 | Heart & Mind, Mental Wellness, Relationships
Thrive Global asked me to answer this question for our Gottman column “Asking For A Friend.” I hope my words for this hurting person can help you or someone you know. Q: I feel like I’m being “cookie-jarred” in my relationship. Will things ever...
by Jenny TeGrotenhuis | Aug 2, 2019 | Dating, Heart & Mind
Q: My ex-girlfriend and I broke up about a year ago, and I’ve been dating a new woman for the past few months. We’re happy, and my previous relationship is in the past. But I recently found out that my ex is dating someone new, and for some reason, it bothers me....
by Jenny TeGrotenhuis | Jun 21, 2019 | Communication, Heart & Mind, Mental Wellness, Relationships
Q: My husband and I are having communication issues. The main problem is he doesn’t converse with me! Everywhere I read and hear that human connection and bonding is important. He responds “uh huh” to most of my “bids” and I am at a loss as to what to do. I’ve tried...
by Jenny TeGrotenhuis | Oct 18, 2018 | Heart & Mind
Q: My best friend of 15 years suddenly started to ghost me. I’d been reaching out every day with texts and voicemails, apologizing for anything I might have done to offend her. But after weeks of no response, I stopped. It’s bothering me a lot and I’m not sure what to...
