Communication Killers Series
Regardless of what kind of relationship you are working on, the basic dynamics are the same. This means that romantic, platonic (friendship), employer and employee, parent and child, etc. all operate on the same basic assumptions.
In the Communication Killers series of posts, we will discuss the 6 most toxic communication patterns:
Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Gottman refer to the first 4 as the Four Horsemen (Criticism, Defensiveness, Contempt, and Stonewalling); the last two are the Horsemen’s cousins, Belligerence and Blame. They are very clear that these dynamics will poison any relationship, not just romantic ones.
Please read more about communication patterns in the Couples and Marriage Counseling category of articles; remember, even if you are not talking about a romantic relationship, the basic underlying dynamics still apply.
To learn more about red-flags to look out for and how to fix them, please visit my Couples Counseling page. Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s has worked in the helping profession since he started college in 1990. After completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas, Austin in 1994, he attended the highly-regarded University of Minnesota to earn his Master’s degree in 1997. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is recognized as a Board Approved Supervisor by the State of Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Jonathan has completed Level-2 of the Gottman Method of Couples Counseling, and in 1998 received training by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management & Debriefing. To learn more about Jonathan’s practice, click here: Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s.
