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 | Apr 17, 2020 | Body & Brain, Relationships
When Karen’s face popped up on my computer screen, I sensed a storm was raging in her world. “How’ve you and your family been doing with the shelter-in-place mandate?” I asked. “Not great!” She fired back. Frustration, disappointment, and resentment...
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 | Jun 21, 2019 | Mental Wellness, Relationships
Q. I’ve been seeing someone for a couple months and things are going well — but I constantly feel nervous that he’s about to end things. Sometimes things seem to be great, and then sometimes I feel like he’s losing interest. Am I just being too...
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...
