Summary: <p>Relationship Skills<br> and Relationship Saboteurs<br> Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes<br> Executive Director, AllCEUs</p> <p>Counseling CEs for this topic can be earned at <a href="https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/612/c/">https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/612/c/</a></p> <p>Objectives<br> ~ Tips for Sweetening Your Relationship<br> ~ Steps for Building Empathy<br> ~ Tips for a Closer Relationship<br> ~ Tips for Compromise<br> ~ Tips for Getting Your Needs Met<br> ~ Tips for Giving Emotional Support<br> ~ Tips for Being More Thoughtful</p> <p>Tips for Sweetening Your Relationship<br> ~ Love is a combination of emotions and actions including talking, compassion and trust.<br> ~ Rewrite your vows/promises<br> ~ Have a re-commitment ceremony<br> ~ Imagine what life would be like if your partner were gone<br> ~ Communicate to your partner in his or her love language<br> ~ Receiving gifts<br> ~ Quality time<br> ~ Words of affirmation<br> ~ Acts of service (devotion)<br> ~ And physical touch</p> <p>Sweetening<br> ~ Make an effort<br> ~ Write down a list of things your partner could do that would make you feel loved/happy and exchange them.<br> ~ Remember (or get Google to remind you) of birthdays, anniversaries, or just happy occasions and celebrate<br> ~ Celebrate for no reason<br> ~ If you have a disagreement, take a step back and try to see it from your partner’s point of view</p> <p>Sweetening<br> ~ Don’t let fear of being vulnerable or abandonment undermine you<br> ~ Share hopes, dreams and fears.<br> ~ If becoming vulnerable makes you also become critical and defensive, identify and work through the reasons<br> ~ Think back to hopes and dreams you shared when you were dating…make it happen<br> ~ Remind you partner of the qualities you love about them.<br> Building Empathy<br> ~ Empathy vs. sympathy<br> ~ Put yourself in their shoes (with their experiences)<br> ~ Identify 3 alternate reasons you partner may be feeling/acting the way he or she is<br> ~ If your child was going through this situation, how would you feel?<br> ~ Remember that what you would want and need is not necessarily what your partner wants and needs.<br> ~ Allow yourself to listen as if your only job is to understand<br> ~ Without preconceptions<br> ~ Knowing that you know nothing<br> ~ Free from trying to create consistency between your feeling/perceptions and your partner’s feelings and perceptions… for now just focus on understanding the unique experience of your partner.</p> <p>Empathy<br> ~ Think of a difficult time that you experienced and answer all the questions<br> ~ What was your perception of the occurrence?<br> ~ What was troubling about this occurrence?<br> ~ What were the emotions that you felt at the time of the occurrence?<br> ~ What emotions are being expressed in this moment?<br> ~ What do you need from you (which is often just to be empathetic)?<br> ~ Start by taking time by yourself to practice using these skills on yourself… your ability to understand your own emotions will directly affect your ability to empathize with your partner.</p> <p>Empathy<br> ~ When your partner is relaying a difficult experience, listen to be able to understand:<br> ~ What was his/her perception of the occurrence?<br> ~ What was troubling about this occurrence?<br> ~ What were the emotions that he/she felt at the time of the occurrence?<br> ~ What emotions are being expressed in this moment?<br> ~ What does he/she need from you (which is often just to be empathetic)?<br> ~ This can also be practiced in group or at home using media clips of people arguing.<br> Tips for a Closer Relationship<br> ~ Use relationships to teach you how to be whole (</p>
