033: Sharing Personal Experiences with Lisa Ligouri

Welcome to Episode 33 of The Communicate & Connect Podcast! I'm your host, Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky, a dedicated military marriage counselor and therapist, thrilled to guide you through today's enlightening discussion. Joining us is the remarkable Lisa Ligouri, founder of a nonprofit offering transformative resources through her podcast at advicecolumn.com. Lisa offers a unique perspective on relationship building, enriched by a free downloadable worksheet designed to help listeners navigate the delicate balance between giving advice and sharing personal experiences. In this episode, "Sharing Personal Experiences with Lisa Ligouri," we delve into the powerful practice of experience sharing—a communication tool that enhances emotional connections and strengthens relationships. We'll explore Lisa's private journey toward integrating vulnerability in her interactions, a journey marked by personal growth through counseling, reading relationship books, and being inspired by her husband's openness. Lisa Ligouri brings to the table her passion and personal experiences, drawing on her past where she, raised by an "alpha" problem-solving father, transitioned from advice-giving to reflective listening and experience sharing. Her insights are particularly beneficial for couples navigating unique challenges, such as military families facing frequent relocations or deployments. Together, we discuss practical strategies for building intimacy and trust, from using reflective listening techniques to the art of asking permission before sharing personal stories. Lisa introduces her innovative "5%" concept—sharing significant, yet often undisclosed aspects of our lives to foster deeper connections. Through this, we aim to equip you with actionable steps, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality and trust as foundations for successful vulnerability. Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to get all the future episodes and help the podcast be found by others who would benefit the most.  You can sign up for Elizabeth's FREE 10-week relationship email course here.  Read the show notes for this episode here.    Free Relationship Pattern Assessment Are you having the same conversation over and over? Many couples assume they have a communication problem when they're actually stuck in a relationship pattern that keeps creating the same conflict. Take the free Relationship Pattern Assessment to identify the pattern that may be keeping you disconnected and learn what to focus on next. 👉 https://pages.communicateandconnect.com/relationship-quiz