Emotional intimacy
Feeling truly known by the person beside you. What builds it, what erodes it and how to find your way back.
Marriage
People pleasing
Saying yes when you mean no, again? Here is what people pleasing means, why it is so hard to stop and small…
The Four Horsemen
Criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling: what John and Julie Gottman's four conflict patterns sound like at home, and the antidote for each…
Emotional validation
Validation is not agreeing or fixing. It is letting someone know their feelings make sense. Here is how it works and what…
Radical acceptance
Radical acceptance is not giving up or saying something is okay. It is a DBT skill for facing what is real so…
Empty nest syndrome
The quiet house, the sudden grief and the surprising possibilities: what parents feel when children leave, and what can help.
Reflective listening
Reflective listening is the simple move of saying back what you heard so your partner knows you got it. Here is how…
Enmeshment
What it means when a family is so close that nobody has room to be separate, and how to keep the love…
Fair fighting rules
Ten practical fair fighting rules for couples, where the idea came from and why learning to argue well can bring you closer…
Active listening
Listening is more than waiting your turn. Here are the core active listening skills, where they came from and how couples can…
Want to talk it through with Iryna?
Reading helps. Talking can help more. Iryna meets online with individuals, couples and families anywhere in Michigan.