TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS

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Philosophical conversations can be a useful place to understand existential-spiritual grappling. It is in the nature of our existence that we seek to know and understand meaning and purpose, by discussing death, birth, beginnings, endings, existential angst, choice, freedom, grief, loss, joy, growth, longings, and more. In these facilitated conversations the exploration is steeped in curiosity, warmth, and rich philosophical discussion. Clients may then understand their values and aims better. Once this happens, often practical answers to life dilemmas emerge more clearly.

Attachment bonds are vital to humans from the “cradle to the grave” (John Bowlby). Our conversation facilitation is designed to help you learn to deeply listen and respond with care.  We focus on strengthening attachment by guiding, educating, and supporting parent-child conversations, which can also include learning how to repair damage. 

*These sessions are for adult children with parent(s) and mature minors. They host a maximum of one to two parents/caregivers, and one child. We do not conduct therapy when there are active legal situations that restrict or prohibit parent-child interactions. 

Learning to listen well to our partners, respond to their needs effectively as well as communicate our own needs and set appropriate expectations and boundaries is vital in a couples' relationship. If we are to live a lifetime with our spouses, we will need to get good at listening and talking through our problems. Many people lack the skills, or practice avoidance, blame, defensiveness and other harmful ways of being, which thwart connection. Over time, our relationship may become riddled with circular arguments, withdrawal, criticism, or interactions that increase a sense of isolation and loneliness, rather than the closeness we are seeking. 

In facilitated conversations, couples will discuss their concerns in a supportive environment  where the facilitator will teach, guide, and support the couple to speak and listen in ways that create more relationship health, resiliency, security, and connection.

*These facilitated conversations are not suitable for couples who are legally separated, have active legal issues, requiring psychological, therapeutic or psychiatric care, or experiencing active untreated abuse or addictions.

Strong relationships are the greatest protective factor for our health and well-being. As relational beings, we are image bearers, elegantly designed to desire to thrive in our connections with other humans. We are also deeply imperfect in our attempts to do that. Conversations should support or help develop healthy attachment bonds with our spouses, family members, friends, and all who matter in our lives, while helping us assess weakness clearly and determine appropriate responses.

“Science has substantiated the value of interdependency. Medical research has demonstrated that when patients depend on others and are not alone, they recover faster and better from a whole host of problems, including heart attacks, strokes, and cancer. Psychological studies have also shown that people who are in committed relationships tend to live longer and are happier and more successful than those who live alone. In addition, sociologists have found that people who possess greater social capital, that is, networks of others they depend on, report greater life satisfaction than those with little social capital. There's little doubt that interdependency has distinct life-giving benefits” (Gottman & Gottman, 2014).

At Wellspring we focus on helping individuals learn how to think and communicate in a reasoned way, learning skills like other-side thinking, listening, reflecting, boundary setting, need conveyance, blame reduction, repair, and other conversational skills intended to preserve and improve the most important relationships to you.