55 Being Vulnerable without Being Pathetic

Today's episode is all about how to improve communication with your significant other. One of the unfortunate effects of this pandemic is that too many people who were already feeling disconnected are now feeling even more isolated and disconnected than they did before. In this episode, I share an outline to help you clean up your communication with your significant other and talk about practical ways to make use of the skills that promote love and connection. I also discuss ways that you can make sure the communication in your relationship is healthy, functional, and productive -- and if it's not, you will know what to do to improve it after you listen to this episode. Listen in to find out what shapes communication, how to break bad communication habits, and ways to respond sensitively to your partner. "We need to understand the skills that promote love and connection." - John Howard, MA. If you'd like to check out our awesome online programs for couples, come visit us at www.johnhowardmft.com. And to support the show, please leave us a rating and review on iTunes/Apple Podcasts. Thank You!

I am celebrating today and I hope you will celebrate with me. This is a special show to me because yesterday my first book launched. More Than Words: The Science of Deepening Love and Connection in Any Relationship was released just in time for these few weeks leading up to Valentine's Day and I'm excited to talk about the book today and to give you a preview of what you are going to learn. I used my ten years of working with couples and the latest neuroscience and poured all of those secrets into the book. In this episode, I share highlights from the book and the keys to implementing these tips. I also talk about why we often feel disconnected in our relationships and how to be more present with a partner. Help me with my mission to spread love all around the world and listen in to this episode as I share the experience of writing my first book and discuss the joys and the challenges of shared living, ways to connect more deeply with a partner, and how to know if it's time to end a relationship. "Every single day is a learning experience in a relationship." - John Howard MA. If you'd like to check out our awesome online programs for couples, come visit us at www.johnhowardmft.com. And to support the show, please leave us a rating and review on iTunes/Apple Podcasts. Thank You!

A bad night of sleep has the power to wear down your defenses and leave you physically and emotionally drained during the day. That's why, in this episode, you'll learn from my colleague Dr. Katie Strickland about the Biopsychosocial model, how to maintain a healthy sleep pattern, and how sleep affects your relationships. You'll learn how the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy style of therapy can treat sleep issues, how physical exercise aids mental health, and how to treat insomnia without medication. "We're really trying to improve overall mood and manage stress by learning how to become more attuned to our emotional experiences." - Katie Strickland If you'd like to check out our awesome online programs for couples, come visit us at www.johnhowardmft.com. And to support the show, please leave us a rating and review on iTunes/Apple Podcasts. Thank You!

Welcome back to the show! In Season Two we want to capitalize on everything that we are learning at our new, broader wellness center, where we are working at the intersection of health, wellness and relationship life. We are going to be having broader conversations about your health and wellness, how to optimize your relationship health, mental health, and physical health, and how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic in terms of our existential life. Where are we drawing our sense of purpose from? Do we have a sense of tribe and belonging? I hope you enjoy this new season of The John Howard Show. If you'd like to check out our awesome online programs for couples, come visit us at www.johnhowardmft.com. To support the show, please leave us a rating and review on iTunes/Apple Podcasts. Thank You!

We reveal the big project we've been working on for the past 6 months. Tune in to learn powerful new tips that relate to our expanded mission! "We want you to feel more present in your mind, in your body, and with the people that matter the most to you." – John Howard. Learn more about this episode of Ready Set Love at www.readysetlove.com/episode-60

"There are no simple solutions to our differences. You have to embrace that complexity." – John Howard. Learn more about this episode of Ready Set Love at www.readysetlove.com/episode-59

Find out how therapy works and the ingredients you'll need to make it successful. Learn why therapy is both a science and an art. "Therapy generally is more productive and more successful if the therapist is available for a real relationship with you." – John Howard. Learn more about this episode of Ready Set Love at www.readysetlove.com/episode-58

Learn how to manage and be around your extended family members while maintaining a healthy connection with your partner. Visit relatives with ease! "One way to protect yourselves and also make it more fun, is to go into extended family situations with a game plan of prioritizing yourselves, prioritizing your connection, prioritizing spending quality time with each other." – John Howard. Learn more about this episode of Ready Set Love at www.readysetlove.com/episode-57

Tune in to learn what narcissism is, how to identify narcissistic traits & behaviors, and how to handle a narcisstic partner. "The typical narcissist presents like a jerk and therefore doesn't elicit much empathy from others. But to a trained mental health professional, narcissism looks like untreated trauma– like a call for help." – John Howard. Learn more about this episode of Ready Set Love at www.readysetlove.com/episode-56

Tune in to learn how to be vulnerable with your partner in a way that won't make you seem weak, overly needy, or pathetic to your partner. "We dismiss emotion too quickly, therefore we don't take the time to savor the wisdom that's embedded in feelings." – John Howard. Learn more about this episode of Ready Set Love at www.readysetlove.com/episode-55