Couples Therapy
Differentiation-based couples therapy focuses on helping partners develop a strong sense of self while maintaining a deep connection with each other. This approach encourages individuals to explore their own values, emotions, and boundaries, fostering growth and self-awareness within the relationship. By balancing intimacy with personal autonomy, couples can build healthier, more resilient partnerships that allow for both closeness and independence.
In differentiation-based couples therapy, self-soothing through self-validation plays a crucial role in maintaining emotional balance during conflict. Self-validating statements help you acknowledge your own feelings and needs without seeking external reassurance. Instead of looking to your partner to soothe or affirm you, self-validation encourages you to ground yourself in your own experience. Phrases like, "It makes sense that I'm feeling upset right now," or "I can handle my emotions without needing my partner to change" foster a sense of inner strength. This helps you stay connected to yourself, which ultimately supports healthier, more resilient relationships.
In this video, we dive into the four key pillars of differentiation-based couples therapy: self-soothing, tolerating differences, maintaining connection, and holding onto yourself. These pillars help you build a strong, resilient relationship by balancing your connection with your partner and your own sense of self. Join me as I explain each pillar and how they contribute to healthier, more fulfilling relationships.