Perhaps the most frequent issue with communication in a relationship is the "hard start up".  This occurs when one person has been thinking about what they want to say all day and as soon as they see their partner they deliver the conclusion of the conversation that has been transpiring in their thoughts all day.  The most common reaction in their partner will be defensiveness which pushes the anxiety level in the room to the top.  The confusion about what is happening will lead to an argument because they have not communicated.  The partner who has been thinking about w

This is the first in a series of Blog entries designed to help you think about your relationships in the family.  We thought we would start by talking about the marital relationship since it forms the base for any couple.  We receive a number of calls each week from people who are feeling a great deal of stress in their relationship with their spouse or significant other.  The common theme is "we just don't communicate anymore."  This concern has many meanings from, “we can't ever agree” to “we can't talk about things” that are possibly going to create conflict.  If