1/17/18 8:30 PM EST BlogTalk Radio Episode: "How Good a Partner Are You? Take the Test"

In this half hour episode I explore the issues involved with being either a clueless spouse / partner, or one who has healthy, loving partnership skills. This episode taps into emotional intelligence, how highly you would rate yourself when examining your attitudes, knowledge and practices in your primary relationship, and identifying areas where you may need to improve to avoid misery, and to create more satisfaction for you and your partner / spouse. Tune in and take the 20 question test to get a better read on how the experts might score you, also to get a better sense of where you might be headed for avoidable trouble!

To join the conversation live with questions or comments call toll-free 877-497-9046.  If you can't make the live show you can hear the recording anytime afterward at: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager

However you tune in, you won't want to miss this episode! You'll learn about relationship skills and practices essential to happiness and trust!

"Cheap Forgiveness" Podcast 11/8/17 8:30 PM EST

In this 15 minute BlogTalk Radio episode I'll share my insights and experiences with the issue of cheap forgiveness - what it is, and how and when it may be adaptive as the best possible "solution" to emotional injury, vs. what the costs may be to the person bestowing it and to the relationship. I'll give a mini "life lesson" on the larger issue of forgiveness and what the options may be when an offender isn't repentant or available to a process of true repair around an emotional injury.

To join the episode live call 877-497-9046 to come on the air with your questions, comments or story.  If you can't make the live podcast you can listen to the recording afterward anytime at: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager  However you tune in, don't miss this important episode!

Next BlogTalk Radio episode Wed. 8/24 8:00 PM EST: "3 Key Signs of Unfairness in Relationships and How to Fix Them"

Don't miss my next BlogTalk Radio episode on Thursday, August 24th at 8:00 PM EST. It will be 20 minutes of discussion about the signs of unfairness in relationships, and how to remedy the situation.
Tune in live at 877-497-9046 to join me on the air with your questions or comments.

Don't miss this 20 minute information-packed episode, especially if you've been accused of behaving unfairly, or if you're on the receiving end of unfair treatment and don't know how to handle it.

If you can't make the live episode you can hear the recording at: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager

 

"BTR Podcast Wed. 7/19/17 8:30 PM EST: "5 Communication Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them"

In this 20 to 30 minute episode I'll share my experiences as a psychotherapist witnessing common communication blunders clients often make. Whether you're trying to communicate with a spouse, partner, friend or family member there are predictable and avoidable pitfalls you need to know about! You'll learn about simple techniques to avoid these communication problems, be clearer about your message, and be heard and understood in a way which greatly improves relationships. Using my popular book "I'm Talking! Are You Listening?" as a guide, I will empower listeners to communicate with almost anyone more effectively about anything.

Call 877-497-9046 to join the live conversation with questions or comments. If you can't make the live episode tune into www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager to listen to the recording anytime afterward.

 

"Avoid the 3 Mistakes Many Women Make that Repel Love" BlogTalk Radio show Wed, 6/14/17 Noon

Tune into this 30-40 minute episode I'll be co-hosting with a unique relationship mentor, Valerie Greene, who helps couples to stop fighting and fall in love again, and who helps women inspire their husbands or partners into deeper love and intimacy, not relational dread. Providing a highly successful alternative to relationship therapy, Valerie helps women and couples move beyond problem-solving and communication skills to create a secure emotional CONNECTION.

Tune into this special episode to learn more from Valerie about how to transform relationship conflict into deeper intimacy, avoiding the relational moves that repel love.  Join us live with your questions or comments by calling into the studio at: 877-497-9046. If you can't make the live show simply go to: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager to hear the recording afterward.

The Effects of Misplace Financial Trust Before and During a Divorce

Whether you're in your 30's or 40's and have recently been married, or are in your 50's or 60's, and have been married for many years, you may have been in a traditional marriage where your spouse (most often the husband), has provided and controlled the income, and you have managed the household and children. If you haven't been part of decision making or knowledge about financial matters, but have entrusted them to your spouse, then you may be in a very vulnerable situation of naive financial trust as you face a divorce.

Tune into my next 40 minute BlogTalk Radio episode on Wednesday, May 17th at 8:30 PM EST about this topic, "Misplaced Financial Trust Before and During a Divorce", featuring my guest, Irina Andreasen, MBA, a financial planner with Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC in Hampton, NH. We'll be discussing what this problem is, how to spot it, and what you can do to avert some really bad financial decisions you may ultimately regret, not only in the marriage, but also in a potential divorce.

Join us live with your questions or comments at 877-497-9046 or catch the recording of the episode anytime afterward at: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager

The 4 Things You Should Never Say to Someone You Care About

I have recently been hearing a horrible lament by someone I'm close to, and it makes me feel fiercely protective and furious all at once. Let's call my confider "Jane" for purposes of reference. "Jane" has been on the receiving end of hateful, ignorant, and negating exclamations by her son, "John," who cannot allow for her experiences regarding some toxic history between them. Instead of being curious about her version of events, and concerned or confused about how hurt and violated she feels, he insists on inserting his own "truth" story, and blames her entirely for all their difficult past. Unfortunately, as "Jane" is a "pleaser" who can't tolerate conflict, and fears her son's anger and defensiveness, she shuts down, becomes silent, feels devastated, and gets overwhelmed with hurt and self doubt when they have these exchanges. Sadly, I can  predict that they are highly unlikely to heal or ever have a better relationship with this dynamic present.

Here are the four things he has repeatedly said to her I would recommend you NEVER say to anyone you care about if you want a collaborative, respectful approach to dealing with painful events:

1. "Forget about it!"

2. "It's in the past! Stop dwelling on it!"

3. "Let it go!"

4. "Get over it!"

Those statements presume that healing in a relationship is simply a matter of turning the page by oneself, rather than a two person interaction where each person shares their grievances, listens to the other person's grievances, and together they look at how they each contributed to the problems, and how they can each contribute to reconciliation. The above responses indicate that the speaker has abdicated any personal responsibility for past events, and that he feels that the problems are all drama in his mother's mind, and not co-created. The situation becomes even more toxic as there is no pattern of obsessive thinking or melodrama as an M.O. by the mother, (his defensive presumption). Just some hurt, and a different experience of history needing attention and concern, not a complete non-empathic negation.

So, when you hear someone close to you having a different story about events, instead of negating their feelings and perceptions with any one of these four statements, let them know that you've experienced things differently, but are curious and concerned about their experience. Realize that you each have your own subjective version of "the truth," and that hopefully, by listening to each other you can discover how you've each contributed in your own way to the problems. Then you can explore how you each can become part of a healing solution.

*If you and a significant other are stuck in a defensive cycle like this feel free to contact me at 603-431-7131 to set up one or more sessions individually, or as a couple.