Effective communication is crucial in any relationship, be it romantic, professional, or familial. Communicating clearly and effectively can improve relationships and promote mutual understanding and respect. However, effective communication is not just about speaking; it also involves active listening, understanding, and expressing oneself clearly. This text discusses various ways to improve communication, including seeking therapy.
Therapy can be an effective way to improve communication skills. It can help individuals understand themselves better, process their emotions, and learn how to communicate better. By exploring one’s emotions and thought patterns, individuals can identify areas where they struggle and learn how to regulate their emotions, think before speaking, and use “I” statements, which are essential to effective communication.
Communicate better through therapy
Communicating is the act of listening, understanding, and expressing oneself. A common problem that can arise in relationships in our lives that causes stress and anxiety is not effectively communicating with others. It is not uncommon to attempt to resolve a disagreement through talking, but instead, it escalates to shouting, yelling, walking away, or shutting down. The more we ineffectively communicate our needs to others, the more anxiety, resentment, and loneliness can increase. The reality is that we often have to do something wrong to become good at it. Only through lack of communication and reflecting on poor ways of communication can we adjust and improve in the future. Communicating is not the ability to speak, as many may think; it is the ability to think through, process, understand, emphasize, be present, hold space for the other, and then speak. There are ways to communicate effectively, which will improve your relationships with others.
Sometimes, it helps to talk to a therapist and process emotions. You will communicate more effectively by understanding ourselves, our feelings, our core values, and our belief systems. For example, if you know WHY you are experiencing a particular emotion, then you are more likely to be able to sit with that emotion. And if you can sit with a feeling and be vulnerable, you can share what’s going on with a partner, friend, or family member. It allows the other person to understand you, which is the key to CONNECTION. If you are feeling the emotion of ANGER and you walk away from your partner, they may never know what caused this feeling and how to support you in the future or prevent this from happening again. The more you shut down, yell, and ineffectively share your feelings, the more room for miscommunication. Communicating better in one relationship can also improve communication in all areas of your life. If you and your partner display good communication in front of your child, they will mirror those behaviors and it may improve their own communication.
Types of therapy that may improve communication may be children’s therapy, couples therapy, marriage and family therapy, and therapy for teenagers.
Here are some tips to become a better communicator that your therapist can help you with:
-
Learn to identify the difference between speaking up and opting out. Not every situation requires your input, and sometimes, being silent is better for your emotional well-being (only when it’s not at the expense of yourself!)
-
Get better at regulating your emotions so you can clearly articulate your thoughts and understand your feelings so that you are not overwhelmed by them
-
Think before you speak: get in the habit of asking yourself: What will the impact of my words be?
-
Avoid focusing on needing to win or having the last word. Are you trying to resolve or trying to WIN?
-
Communicating when overwhelmed instead of lashing out
-
Being able to give and accept feedback
-
Learn to use “I” statements. Example: “I feel…”
It is best to avoid communicating passively and argumentatively. Instead, you want to learn to communicate assertively and clearly how we feel so others can better understand you. The goal in therapy is to develop a healthy therapeutic relationship that can help you develop coping skills, feel supported, improve outside relationships and better understand yourself! If you want to improve your communication today, contact Rebound Total Health!
Find us on Facebook.