Per Wilson, monogamy is the practice of limiting emotional and physical intimacy to one partner. These limits can look different to different people, so it’s important to establish agreed upon boundaries.
Developing intimacy is both a physical and emotional practice. “It’s when we let our guard down and allow others to know us in vulnerable places in a consensual and connected way,” says Wilson.
Projection is the act of placing your own worries about yourself onto someone else. “Often, this takes the form of an assessment of yourself that you assume your partner is thinking,” says Wilson.
Stonewalling is an emotional coping mechanism most often employed when a person is feeling unsafe or overwhelmed in a relationship. “It looks like a refusal to connect or communicate,
“Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse in which one partner habitually casts doubt on their partner’s perceptions,” explains Wilson, who urges that the term shouldn’t be used lightly.
A potential relationship killer if left unchecked—and a common reason for seeking out couples counseling in the first place—contempt is built-up anger and resentment.
First categorized by Dr. Gary Chapman in 1992, the five love languages are different ways in which individuals give and receive love, care and affection. They include: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch.
Toxic positivity is the practice of persistently focusing on positive feelings while leaving little to no space for difficult emotions. (Key phrases include “Quit being so negative!”, “Everything happens for a reason” and “Look on the bright side!
Stress can manifest in physical symptoms: shallow breath, a racing heart, and sweaty palms. Regulation is the practice of minimizing these responses, which will help you move through difficult situations without becoming overwhelmed.
Humans subconsciously learn to bond with and rely on caregivers as a means of survival. Modern attachment theory posits that we carry what we learn in our early years into relationships with significant others, and that manifests in four attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful-avoidant.