John Gottman’s Four Horsemen of Communication: A Guide to Healthier Relationships
Dr. John Gottman’s Four Horsemen of communication, criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling, are powerful predictors of relationship breakdown. Learn how relationship counselling and healthier communication skills can replace these patterns with appreciation, accountability, and emotional intimacy.
Self-Soothing for Couples. Regulating Emotions to Stay Connected
Discover how self-soothing can transform conflict into connection. Learn practical techniques for calming emotional flooding in relationships, from grounding exercises to taking a soothing timeout. Based on John Gottman’s research, these tools help couples regulate their emotions, prevent escalation, and return to conversations with clarity and respect.
At Open Hand Counselling, we guide partners in building emotional regulation skills and healthy communication habits. Whether you’re seeking strategies to calm down during arguments or looking for support in managing conflict with compassion, this post offers insight and encouragement for staying connected when it matters most.
Staying on Your Side of the Street
Healthy relationships thrive when we set emotional boundaries, practice self-awareness, and take personal responsibility for our feelings. This approach, often called staying on your side of the street, is a powerful way to improve communication skills, reduce conflict, and foster deeper connection. Inspired by Brené Brown’s boundary work and Nonviolent Communication principles, this method helps you manage your own emotions while respecting others.