Resentment Breeding Grounds

"My wife is so wrapped up in her work that she never listens to me."
"When I suggested a weekend trip to celebrate our anniversary, my husband listed all the reasons we couldn't get away."

These experiences in couple relationships are breeding grounds for resentment. Frequently, to avoid conflict, someone in the relationship decides not to say anything and retreats into cold silence while their partner yells and complains.

Not surprisingly, both of these relationship styles result in verbal attacks, hostile humor and less intimacy.

"This is just one more example of having to do things your way."

"You never listen to me!"

The willingness to listen with the intention of seeing how it feels to be in your partner's shoes can be almost miraculous.

Counseling is an effective way to develop communication tools to repair past resentments and build fun-loving and intimate relationships.