Communication and conflict
Talking, arguing well, boundaries and asking for what you need.
23 storiesThe most unpleasant compliments
Compliments about appearance are thin ice: here is what NOT to say.
How do I ask my partner for care and attention when I'm feeling bad?
In short: clear instructions. A clinical psychologist answers a reader's question.
I'm a manipulator in my relationship. What should I do?
Why we manipulate, and whether we need to do anything about it.
Management techniques that come in handy in healthy relationships (part 2)
SMART goals, conflict mapping and the "5 whys": three management methods for making plans together, resolving conflicts constructively and getting out of crises.
Red flags and abuse
How to recognize the warning signs of a dangerous relationship, and why they shouldn't be ignored.
This is a red flag
A red flag warns of a problem, and it's important not to ignore it. Five chats with alarm bells.
Is that a red flag?
Is a red flag a final verdict or a warning sign? We break it down together with a psychologist-psychoanalyst.
Ask the question directly
One of the most common causes of conflict in relationships is partners making up their own explanations for each other's actions and motives.
Everything's fine
That very eloquent "fine."
Different ways to say “I miss you”
“I miss you”, translated from different languages.
Why we fight on vacation and how to find your own compromise combo
Everyone pictures a holiday differently, and that's okay. Checking your expectations and accepting your differences before you go is the key to a great trip together.
Is it okay to get this mad at your partner?
We've all been there. A psychologist explains how to be mad at a partner.
Autism & sex and relationships
An autistic woman explains how to flirt, argue and build relationships with an autistic person.
How to talk to your loved ones without getting irritated
And other questions for a communication expert
Let go of your need to be right
Being right is nice, but it isn't necessary: why empathy matters more than winning an argument.
Say what brings you closer, not what pushes you apart
Devaluing vs. support: what to say instead
How to accept compliments
Not every compliment feels good. Why some praise makes us uncomfortable, which compliments are appropriate, and how to accept or turn them down.
Alarm bells in a relationship
Six warning signs in a relationship.
What to ask and what to say if your partner tells you about violence they have experienced
A crisis-centre specialist explains what to ask and say when a partner opens up about past violence, and what to do if your own emotions feel overwhelming.
Caring communication checklists for couples on a trip
With the season of long weekends and vacations coming up, here are a few short checklists for couples who travel together.
My partner and I need different amounts of touch: what should I do?
A psychologist and body-oriented therapist on what to do if you don't get enough touch from your partner.
My partner shuts down and won't talk: what should I do?
Finding the key to this closed door, together with a psychologist and body-oriented therapist.
“You’re special. You’re so mature for your age”
Age gap: a story about a relationship with a man ten years older, and the red flags that came with it.