ERP 236: How To Deal With Uncertainty And Ambiguous Grief An interview With Dr. Michael McNulty

Bio: 

Mike McNulty, PhD is a psychotherapist specializing in couples therapy, and the founder of The Chicago Relationship Center, and practices in Evanston and Highland Park, IL. Dr. McNulty is a senior certified Gottman relationship therapist and master trainer for The Gottman Institute, who leads workshops for couples and professionals in the United States, Ireland, and Sri Lanka. He has traveled to Sri Lanka 22 times since the 2004 tsunami to provide training to paraprofessional counselors.

 

(Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear explanations, stories, and examples.)

 

In this episode, Dr. Michael McNulty and Dr. Jessica Higgins discuss: 

• What is ambiguous loss?
• How ambiguous loss affects the grieving process and how to address this type of loss.
• What to do when we have different perspectives and/or a different positions on an issue (i.e. like how to deal with Covid-19).
• How couples with different perspectives can work together and support each other. 
• When problems become gridlocked and the stress and disconnect that results.
• What helps us be more flexible and creative, so that we can cope better and be more resilient together. 
• How to build rituals for connection, meaning and significance.

“Grief becomes frozen. People do not know what they are grieving, and how to begin to move forward with life.” 

   

Mentioned: 

• Coping with Uncertainty During COVID-19: An International Gottman Trainer Shares Their Perspective by Dr. Michael McNulty (Article)
• Ambiguous Loss Dr. Pauline Boss' website
• Chicago Relationship Center  Website
• The Gottman Institute Website
• Dr. Susan Johnson Website
• The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties by William J. Doherty (book)
• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (book)
• Gottman Card Deck

 

Connect with Dr. Michael McNulty

Email: mikemcnultyphd@gmail.com

Website: Chicago Relationship Center 

 

Connect with Dr. Jessica Higgins:  

Facebook: facebook.com/EmpoweredRelationship 

Instagram: instagram.com/drjessicahiggins 

Podcast: drjessicahiggins.com/podcasts 

Pinterest: pinterest.com/EmpowerRelation 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjessicahiggins 

Twitter: @DrJessHiggins 

Website: drjessicahiggins.com  

Email: jessica@drjessicahiggins.com

 

 

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If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Connected Couple Program or engaging in relationship coaching work with me.