Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

Childhood, environment, culture, religion, and background all have an impact on who we become and how we perceive ourselves. These factors also influence how we present ourselves in relationships. Most relationships start out with the lovely phase of courting and falling in love. Up until differences arise, everything seems to be perfect. These differences can be significant life choices like having children, purchasing a home, moving to a different country or city, or even something as basic as eating habits. Dealing with cross-cultural differences makes this even more challenging. Dr. Kathrine Bejanyan discusses the typical issues that couples from various cultures encounter. She acknowledges that some sacrifices are necessary for the relationships to work, but she also expresses caution, saying that some sacrifices are not worthwhile. In this episode, she discusses how to resolve disagreements with your partner or get yourself ready for a successful relationship with someone from a different background. Dr. Kathrine Bejanyan is a practicing therapist specializing in the areas of dating, relationships, and cross-cultural topics. Her practice focuses on working with individuals and couples on love, dating, and relationship issues, with an emphasis on building deeper intimacy, connection, and authenticity in their love lives. Outside of her private practice, Kathrine is a speaker, consultant, and lecturer in psychology. She holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and a Master's in counseling psychology. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 5:31 Dr. Kathrine Bejanyan's keen interest in understanding cultural dynamics. 11:34 How overcoming struggles fosters relationships and individual growth. 13:50 Defining the problem before solving it. 17:38 Typical issues that cross-cultural couples face. 20:04 The importance of curiosity in a healthy relationship. 26:33 How to handle cultural differences in relationships. 36:29 Cultural identity is dynamic rather than static. 48:42 How to connect with Kathrine. Mentioned Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love Connect with Dr. Kathrine Bejanyan Websites: kathrinebejanyan.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-kathrine-bejanyan 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

The separate self is a lie. Contrary to modern culture's idea of the solo self or individualism, which emphasizes the need to look out for and take care of oneself above all else, indigenous people believe that everything is interconnected. There has always been a connection between us and the rest of the world. Although it originated in Western culture, individualism is a global phenomenon that prevents us from living in greater balance and harmony. In today's society, self-reliance is highly stressed and valued, which gives the impression that we are on our own and leaves a lot of people experiencing feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, and desperation. In this episode, Dr. Dan Siegel aims to shift that mindset into a more relational approach. He places a strong emphasis on how crucial it is to understand how connected we all are. He believes that by understanding and embracing this ancient message, we can find solutions to more significant problems like public health and planetary health, in addition to our relationships with other people. Let's dive in. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 5:38 The inspiration of the book: the deep desire to let go of the idea of the "solo self" and discover how to lead a more balanced, harmonious life. 17:33 The flimsy fantasy of certainty. 20:59 How our culture encourages us to see ourselves as separate, independent beings. 28:34 How the word "me" can be a limiting word and the origin of the word "MWe." 36:08 The ineffective use of the word "self" in the field of mental health. 41:54 The solo self is a lie: a broader understanding of who we are and the realities of our entangled lives. 48:41 How the idea of intraconnectedness, or MWe, can change romantic relationships. Mentioned IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging (book) Wheel of Awareness by Dr. Dan Siegel Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence--The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Noosphere by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (*Wikipedia) ERP 216: What to Know about Loneliness and Relationship ERP 219: The Human Need for Belonging ERP 215: How to Deal With Being "Alone Together" ERP 208: How to Find Balance and Direction Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love Shifting Criticism For Connected Communication Connect with Dr. Dan Siegel Websites: DrDanSiegel.com | mindsightinstitute.com Facebook: facebook.com/drdansiegel Twitter: twitter.com/DrDanSiegel YouTube: youtube.com/user/mindsightinstitute Instagram: instagram.com/drdansiegel 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

Do you find yourself easily triggered by your partner's actions or tone? Perhaps he or she really did something offensive, or maybe that's just how you perceived it. Sometimes, you don't even understand why you're upset.As you've probably heard a lot of times, relationships aren't always glitz and glamour. It's more of an attraction that, once you've established safety and gone a little deeper, differences begin to surface. At this point, many would presume that their love for their partner has waned or that they made the wrong decision. Although discomfort in intimate relationships just flies in your face, these relationships also serve a deeper purpose: emotional healing and spiritual development. You learn so much more about yourself in a relationship than you could on your own. In this episode, Dr. Susan Campbell discusses triggers, including how they manifest, the reasons behind our emotions, and—most importantly—the five steps to trigger mastery that she outlined in her most recent book. Susan is a best-selling author of 12 books and is the creator and publisher of three entertaining and educational card games for couples, families, work teams, and singles. Susan's work with couples has been featured on national television, including CNN's News Night, Good Morning America, and The Dr. Dean Edel Show, and she has been widely published in popular magazines. In 2003–2004, she was the couple therapist on the reality TV show, Truth in Love, which aired on UPN, an ABC affiliate network. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 5:23 The couple's journey and how it can be an opportunity for healing. 12:04 How to work with triggers in a way that is inviting. 13:05 Getting more comfortable with emotional discomfort. 33:23 How to deal with triggers that will inevitably arise in a relationship: co-triggering vs. co-regulation. 41:48 Dr. Campbell's five-step trigger mastery: from triggered to tranquil. 46:30 Why is it in your best interest to make your partner feel secure? 49:18 Your inner good mother archetype. Mentioned From Triggered to Tranquil: How Self-Compassion and Mindful Presence Can Transform Relationship Conflicts and Heal Childhood Wounds (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Five-Minute Relationship Repair: Quickly Heal Upsets, Deepen Intimacy, and Use Differences to Strengthen Love (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Getting Real: Ten Truth Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) The Couple's Journey: Intimacy As a Path to Wholeness (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) ERP 305: The Surprising & Powerful Benefits of Learning to Tolerate Discomfort — An Interview with Dr. Anna Lembke Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love Shifting Criticism For Connected Communication Connect with Dr. Susan Campbell Websites: susancampbell.com Facebook: facebook.com/drsusan99 Twitter: twitter.com/drsusan99 YouTube: youtube.com/user/drsusan95472?themeRefresh=1 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

Most modern people are unaware of the extent to which the human nervous system is dissociated because there are so many forces—technology, social media, politics, and a whole host of other things—vying for our attention.In this episode, Gabriel Kram talks about how these dissociative tendencies are becoming more prevalent in modern culture and how authority has robbed us of our sacred connection to the earth. Gabriel emphasizes the value of real human connection to one's overall well-being and shares their unconventional strategy to reestablish this connection.Natureza Gabriel is a connection phenomenologist. For 25 years, he has studied connection and what gets in its way. He attended Yale and Stanford universities but has been shaped more by sitting in teepees and circles than in classrooms. He has been blessed with many remarkable mentors. He is the founder and CEO of Hearth Science, Inc., convener of the Restorative Practices Alliance, and co-founder of the Academy of Applied Social Medicine. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 5:55 Gabriel's personal healing journey that inspired him to specialize in connection phenomenology. 11:29 Gabriel defines relatedness. 15:29 Differences between how indigenous people and Western culture conceptualize intelligence. 21:21 How dissociative tendencies are being normalized in modern society. 23:46 How our relatedness to the earth has been obliterated from our language. 39:45 How interoception can improve general wellbeing. 46:40 Gabriel defines social engagement physiology as a physical system. 54:06 A diagnostic and intervention system they've built to strengthen access to the hearts, intuition, and relatedness. Mentioned Restorative Practices of Wellbeing (Connection Phenomenology) (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) The Polyvagal Theory Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love Connect with Gabriel Kram Websites: restorativepractices.com | hearthscience.io | aasm.io 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

In response to criticism or complaints, people frequently resort to becoming defensive as a coping strategy. It's natural for people to defend themselves when they feel harmed or unfairly attacked. While defensiveness is designed to keep us out of danger, it is also one of the major relationship busters. Women commonly complain about their partner's defensiveness and how they feel disconnected. On the other hand, men are perplexed. They have no idea what to do when their partner is upset. And when the nervous system detects a threat, the mind springs into action with a variety of escape strategies or ways to ease the discomfort of anxiety. The mind then intervenes with stories, projections, and defenses. Couples will never truly connect if one partner is in an emotional space and the other responds with information to try to talk him or her out of being upset. In this episode, GS Youngblood introduces embodiment. He differentiates it from the type of meditation that most people are familiar with—noticing your thoughts and then deciding to let them go. He describes how concentrating on specific bodily sensations can help to control the nervous system. He also stresses the significant impact that this kind of awareness can have on how you show up in your relationships. GS coaches men in relationships on how to live, love, and lead from their masculine core. He is the author of the acclaimed books The Masculine in Relationship and The Art of Embodiment for Men, both of which are written to help men build more masculine capacity. His work in this domain of masculine leadership pulls in principles from a variety of fields: psychology, spirituality, martial arts, tango, meditation, and BDSM. Although GS primarily coaches men in relationships, women would equally benefit from practicing being embodied, too. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 5:03 Embodiment vs. meditation: focusing on specific bodily sensations rather than your thoughts. 8:51 Benefits of embodiment in terms of intimate relationships: consciously choosing how one will respond or react. 21:15 How he helps people have more of this embodiment. 41:24 How is being physical different from being embodied? 45:42 Examples of how people can confront their tendencies to escape in this more embodied way. 53:10 Sexual leadership: how to bring some leadership to the bedroom so that your partner can, if she chooses, can surrender to your lead. 56:28 Discover more information about GS and his work, including his website, books, workshops, and social media handles. Mentioned The Art of Embodiment for Men (Affiliate link to GS's course) The Art of Embodiment for Men: Using the ANI Framework and Daily Practices to Tame Anxiety, Heal Trauma, and Conquer Your Nice Guy Tendencies (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) The Masculine in Relationship: A Blueprint for Inspiring the Trust, Lust, and Devotion of a Strong Woman (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) ERP 263: How to Develop Three Key Qualities of Your Positive Masculine Leadership — An Interview with GS Youngblood Shifting Criticism For Connected Communication Connect with GS Youngblood Websites: gsyoungblood.com Facebook: facebook.com/gsyoungblood1/groups Instagram: instagram.com/gsyoungbloodmir/?hl=en 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

Have you ever been in a situation where you just can't find the words to express how you are feeling, and then all of a sudden you come across a word that perfectly captures how you feel? Isn't it empowering to finally have a name for that feeling or experience so you can share it with others? Language is an incredibly effective tool for communication and expression. It not only helps you understand who you are, but it also alters the way you see the world. There are simply not enough words to adequately describe the various kinds of emotions and relationships that people are capable of experiencing, which is why communities, such as the LGBTQ and polyamory, are developing new vocabulary. In this episode, Dr. Georgi Gardiner discusses some new vocabulary words that she covers in her essay, We Forge the Conditions of Love, in an effort to raise awareness. In the aforementioned essay, the author discusses how people's conceptions of love impact their romantic relationships and offers suggestions for how to direct and mold them. Dr. Georgi Gardiner is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and a fellow of the American Council for Learned Societies (ACLS). She previously held the Andrew Fraser Junior Research Fellowship at St. John's College, Oxford University. Georgi received her doctorate from Rutgers University and Undergraduate and Masters degrees from Edinburgh University. Her research interests include the philosophy of love, sexuality, and sex work. She also researches beliefs about trauma and rape. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 6:22 What is linguistic luck and how can it affect your romantic relationship? 8:17 Love has a very permissive flexibility of meaning. 13:27 An example of social forging: holiday romance or a summer fling. 18:51 How can trying on various interpretive frames of oneself be an empowering cognitive skill? 23:15 How to switch between being disempowered and being empowered. 27:12 What influences societal constructs, and how are communities broadening the vocabulary they use to describe their relationships? 30:42 What is limerence, and how might it influence how people perceive love and romantic relationships? 34:22 Are you really experiencing falling in love or is it just limerence? 44:21 How can people utilize this knowledge more in their daily lives? 47:42 Find out more about Dr. Georgi Gardiner and her work. Mentioned We Forge the Conditions of Love (essay) Living with Limerence (book) ERP 286: How to Know if You Experience Limerence & What to Do About It – An Interview With Dr. L Shifting Criticism For Connected Communication Connect with Dr. Georgi Gardiner Website: georgigardiner.com 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

Marriage is one of the most significant decisions one has to make. It is designed to foster a partnership, a lifelong commitment, and a sense of shared success and happiness between two people. Nobody enters into a marriage expecting it to end in divorce, but as couples spend more time together and get to know one another better, conflicts may arise, responsibilities and priorities may change, and if couples can't work it out, it may result in divorce. There are marriage and couple's therapists who can assist couples in working through conflicts, but if the relationship is beyond saving, you might want to speak with a divorce lawyer who can guide you through the legal process. Have you heard of a divorce attorney that helps couples stay in their marriage? That sounds ironic. While most divorce lawyers focus on getting the best settlement offer their clients can get, even if that means adding fuel to the fire, David Erdman approaches his cases differently. David has been happily married for 38 years and has practiced divorce law for over 40 years. He is a graduate of Duke University and the Georgetown University Law Center. David is an advocate and ally for clients who are working to save their marriages with a focus on children. He is also a veteran of over 5,000 marriage-related legal consultations, which inspired him to write the book, The Ten Commandments of Marriage: Secrets of a Divorce Lawyer. In this episode, David discusses his unique approach to handling divorce cases. We'll discover how he is shifting the emphasis from the impending separation to making your marriage the way you want it to be by asking the right questions. Furthermore, he outlines what is in his book while focusing on the most important rules and delivering some insightful advice. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 4:54 David's motivation for writing The Ten Commandments of Marriage: A compilation of what he discovered from more than 5000 other marriages over the course of 40 years. 13:28 Asking clients probing questions to help them prepare for negotiations. 19:12 What is unforgivable? 25:29 Thou shalt learn to resolve differences. 28:34 What happens in a relationship when there is equality. 35:35 Top reasons for divorce: the percentage of women who are more likely to initiate divorce. 38:36 How to make sex satisfying for both you and your partner. 42:49 Spouses' superpowers that you should not neglect. 44:47 Thou shall NOT allow children to obstruct your marriage 49:04 Golden nuggets of advice Mentioned The Ten Commandments of Marriage: Secrets of a Divorce Lawyer (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love Connect with David Erdman Website: tencommandmentsofmarriage.com 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

Relationships are the best mirror for our deepest fears and emotions. Although you may have been able to suppress these feelings as an adult, getting into a committed relationship can bring them to the surface. Can love transform our nervous system and mend these wounds? The short answer is yes. In this episode, Jessica Baum discusses core wounds and the emotional charge associated with that narrative. She also discusses co-regulation and interdependency and how they can be used to better understand your own and your partner's behavior. Jessica Baum, LMHC, is the founder of the Relationship Institute of Palm Beach, providing couples therapy, family counseling, and addiction therapy in South Florida for over 10 years. She has helped thousands of clients with her unique approach to healing, the Self-full® Method. Through her sister company, Be Self-full (beselffull.com), Jessica offers transformational courses and online coaching services that support individuals and couples to form healthy, long-term relationships. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 5:36 Breaking the anxious-avoidant dance in relationships: How Jessica's fascination with energy and system issues evolved. 8:01 Understanding Core Wounds: The underlying story and the energetic charge associated with it. 13:47 Understanding how your nervous system affects your relationships. 20:24 Patterns and themes: Distinguishing what is happening in the relationship from possible feelings you may have had before you met that partner. 24:50 How the nervous system responds to cues of stress and how co-regulation helps create a calm environment. 35:55 How to go from being anxious or avoidant to feeling secure. 48:12 Connect with Dr. Baum and learn more about her work. Mentioned Anxiously Attached: Becoming More Secure in Life and Love (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love Shifting Criticism For Connected Communication Connect with Jessica Baum Websites: beselffull.com/anxiouslyattached Facebook: facebook.com/beselffull Instagram: instagram.com/jessicabaumlmhc 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

​​You become what you consistently tell yourself, whether it is positive or negative, according to the adage "You are who you say you are." This tells us that the thoughts that you feed your mind matter because, unwittingly, they serve as the road map for both your interpersonal relationships and your individual self. You can't really rewrite the past, but having the awareness of how it can impact your life, you give yourself the power to write a new story, a new beginning. In this episode, Dr. Skerrett explains the concept of couples' resilience and the advantages it has for relationships and elaborates on how couples can develop and nurture their resilience. Karen Skerrett, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and registered nurse with over 40 years of experience as a clinician, academic, and author who specializes in strength-based approaches to healing and change across the lifecycle. She is the author of Growing Married, co-author of Positive Couple Therapy, co-editor of Couple Resilience, and author of the memoir Tell Me Again How I Know You? Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 6:06 Karen's transition from nursing to psychology: Targeting towards and focusing on couple's resilience. 11:14 What is couples' resilience and what makes it a source of positive energy for couple life? 13:24 The importance of the stories we tell our narrative. 18:59 The distinction between a story and a "we-story". 25:31 The seven elements of we-ness. 34:50 Transforming individualistic cultures and behavior into an empowering story. 41:39 Karen's advice and resources to help people build a couple's resiliency. Mentioned Growing Married: Creating Stories for a Lifetime of Love (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Couple Resilience: Emerging Perspectives (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Positive Couple Therapy: Using We-Stories to Enhance Resilience (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book) Strengths-based Resilience (SBR) Shifting Criticism For Connected Communication Connect with Dr. Karen Skerrett Websites: karenskerrettphd.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karen-skerrett-7a185024 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.

When your partner or someone else calls you out or you feel attacked, it's natural to go into defense mode. Humans are simply wired that way. Defensiveness, however, can hinder your ability to relate to others and damage your relationships. Aperture awareness is an essential skill for open, honest, and healthy communication. While our brains are built to instantly read an aperture, not everyone is aware of this, so they fail to recognize the signs. The good news is that it's a skill that can be acquired. In this episode, Dr. Kathryn Ford elaborates on aperture awareness and its significance in relationships. You'll learn how to read body language as a sign of awareness, as well as some highly structured exercises to help people slow down. Kathryn Ford, M.D. is a relationship expert and creator of the couples therapy model, Aperture Awareness™ — the felt sensation of availability for connection. She's been practicing psychotherapy for over 20 years in private practice and through workshops at Stanford University. She received her M.D. from Brown University Medical School and did her psychiatry residency at The Stanford School of Medicine. In addition to her traditional training, both her yoga practice and her life-long meditation practice have informed her life and her work. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode 8:02 What sparked Kathryn's interest in mindfulness and relationships? 15:42 Understanding aperture awareness and why it's often disregarded. 21:18 Body language as a sign of responsiveness and awareness. 30:27 Fostering trust by rewarding risk-taking. 32:49 Pumping the brakes and riding the waves. 41:52 How to sift through your partner's words for the kernel of truth. 54:50 The power of slowing down. 58:34 How to connect with Dr. Kathryn Ford. Mentioned About Kathryn Ford M.D. (*Psychology Today) Stanford Continuing Studies Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love Connect with Dr. Kathryn Ford Website: kathrynfordmd.com Facebook: facebook.com/KathrynFordMD Instagram: instagram.com/KathrynFordMD LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kathryn-ford-m-d-1a675b2b 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 If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.