by beckyB | Oct 9, 2026 | Affair Recovery, Communication, Conflict, Counseling, couples counseling, couples therapy, Discernment Counseling, Marriage, relationship counseling, Relationships
In discernment counseling, the leaning-in partner and the leaning-out partner are navigating the same process from very different emotional positions — and each needs something distinct from it. Understanding what’s being asked of each partner is one of the most...
by Sabrina Walters | Oct 7, 2026 | Communication, Conflict, Counseling, Couples, couples counseling, couples therapy, Couples Therapy Portland, Discernment Counseling, Marriage, relationship counseling, Relationships
In discernment counseling, most of the work happens individually — not as a couple. Sessions are structured to give each partner private space to reflect honestly, without the pressure to perform for or protect themselves from their partner. That shift alone changes...
by Sabrina Walters | Oct 6, 2026 | Communication, Conflict, Couples, couples counseling, couples therapy, Discernment Counseling, Gottman Method, Marriage, relationship counseling, Relationships
Discernment counseling is a brief, structured process for couples where one partner is considering leaving the relationship and the other wants to stay. Unlike traditional couples therapy, the goal isn’t to fix the relationship — it’s to help both partners...
by Sabrina Walters | Sep 28, 2026 | Communication, Conflict, Connection, Couples, couples counseling, couples therapy, Couples Therapy Portland, EMDR, Emotional Regulation, Gottman Method, Gratitute, Marriage, Neurofeedback, relationship counseling, Relationships
Every one of Gottman’s Four Horsemen has a specific antidote — a replacement pattern that, when practiced consistently, can shift the entire emotional climate of a relationship. The antidotes aren’t complicated. But they do require intention, especially...
by Sabrina Walters | Sep 17, 2026 | Communication, Conflict, Couples, couples counseling, couples therapy, Couples Therapy Portland, EMDR, Gottman Method, Marriage, relationship counseling, Relationships
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are four destructive communication patterns — criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling — identified by Dr. John Gottman as the most reliable predictors of relationship breakdown. Recognizing them is the first step toward...
by Sabrina Walters | Jul 6, 2026 | Communication, Connection, Counseling, Couples, couples counseling, couples therapy, Couples Therapy Portland, Family, relationship counseling, Relationships, Shared Meaning
How Do Couples Write Their Relationship’s Story Together? Couples build a stronger sense of direction by intentionally reflecting on their shared story — where they’ve been, what they’ve built, and what they want their life together to become....
