Ep. 14: Stop Parenting Your Spouse

Communicating through triggers. It's hard, especially when it's not an obvious trigger. Feeling like you have to parent your spouse, (or the opposite - feeling like your spouse is parenting you) is a VERY common, and very sneaky emotional trigger that quickly creates a hostile environment that can be nearly impossible to communicate well in. Transactional Analysis is a theory and therapeutic modality developed in the 1950's, and is still a helpful tool. It's a tool to identify your "ego state"; (where you typically default in your interactions with others) as a compliant or defiant child, a nurturing or disciplinarian parent, or an adult. With this tool of self-analysis, it can help you raise your awareness around those sneaky, silent "triggers", and change negative communication (and behavioral) patterns. Improve your communication, connections, and keep growing. :) — Help finding a therapist - Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us (click on "Find a Therapist" at the top of the page.) Many therapists are now offering insurance-covered virtual sessions, and there are many services that will help you connect specifically with an online-therapist, which is an amazing option: https://www.betterhelp.com/start/ If you're new to therapy - please know that sometimes it can take a while to find a good fit in a therapist. Therapist shopping can be super rough, but it's worth the effort. If your first meeting isn't ideal, or makes you uncomfortable, don't be discouraged. You don't have to go back - just make an appointment with someone else, and keep going until you find the right fit. It's so worth it. You can also talk to spiritual leaders & trusted friends for local therapist recommendations. —— Intro Music: Staying Positive by spinningmerkaba (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/jlbrock44/59438 Ft: greg_baumont Outtro Music: gravitationalWaves by airtone (c) copyright 2016 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/55021