Conflict is an inevitable part of any relationship. Disagreements will arise whether you’ve been with your partner for just a few months or several decades. How you navigate these conflicts can make all the difference in the health and longevity of your relationship.
At Psychology Beverly Hills, our therapists specialize in relationship counseling. We help couples better understand themselves and their relationship to build trust and resolve conflicts effectively.
Here are some of our best tips for navigating conflict in your relationship and how couples therapy can help.
Everyone faces relationship conflicts, and how you handle fights matters. Start improving your conflict-resolution skills by employing the following strategies.
Triggers are words and situations that make you feel defensive, frustrated, or angry when facing conflict. Before you can effectively navigate conflict in your relationship, it’s essential to recognize your triggers.
These triggers can be anything from a certain tone of voice to a particular behavior. When you know what triggers you, you can take steps to manage your emotional responses and reactions during a conflict.
One of the most important skills in effective conflict resolution is active listening — listening to your partner’s complete thoughts without interrupting or trying to defend yourself.
When your partner speaks, resist the urge to share your thoughts. Try to understand their perspective and reflect on what you’ve heard to ensure you’ve understood correctly.
During a fight, it can be easy to blame your partner for the problem you’re experiencing. Instead of saying, “you always do this,” try using “I” statements to express your feelings.
For example, say, “I feel hurt when this happens,” instead of “you hurt me when….” Using this method can prevent defensiveness and keep the conversation productive.
Sometimes, emotions can become overwhelming during a conflict. If you or your partner need a break to cool down and process your emotions, it’s okay to step away. Just be sure to agree on a time to come back together and continue the conversation.
Couples therapy can be a helpful resource if you’re struggling to navigate conflict in your relationship. Our trained therapists at Psychology Beverly Hills provide a safe and neutral space for you and your partner to work through your issues and improve communication.
Couples therapy can be incredibly beneficial if you and your partner deal with tough conflicts. Our team can help you:
Effective communication is key to any successful relationship. We can help you and your partner identify communication patterns contributing to your conflicts and provide tools for improving your communication strategies.
As mentioned, some relationship conflicts stem from underlying patterns or triggers, like certain behaviors, actions, or lifestyle habits. Our team can help you and your partner identify any patterns contributing to the conflict in your relationship and help you work to change them.
Couples therapy can also equip you and your partner with problem-solving skills that you can use to handle future conflicts. We discuss a variety of problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills and help you identify solutions that work for both of you.
Conflict can erode trust and intimacy in a relationship. Working with our therapists can help you and your partner rebuild trust and intimacy by providing a safe space to work through your issues and find common ground.
Dealing with relationship conflict is challenging, but it’s essential to building a healthy and long-lasting partnership. Our therapists have extensive experience in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mentalization based therapy (MBT), and relationship therapy, and we’re here to help.
Remember, seeking therapy is a sign of strength and a commitment to improving your relationship. To schedule your first appointment, call our Beverly Hills, California, office at 424-331-1568 or book online now.
