What is relationship coaching?
I think of relationship coaching as an educational endeavor. It’s a pragmatic approach to addressing what works and what does not work in creating healthy and happy relationships. The information I share with you will be based on psychological theories and research.

In relationship coaching (both individual and couples) we explore the client’s specific issues of interest and concerns and identify healthy and constructive options/solutions. Discussions also address improving self-awareness and understanding how that affects interpersonal communication and relationships.

The psychology literature I primarily draw from includes: (1) Dr. John Gottman & Nan Silver, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, (2) Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, (3) Ken Sande, The Peacemaker, Peacemaker Ministries and (4) Dr. Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence. There is of course much more, but those are my primary sources.

What is Emotional Intelligence (EQ or EI)?
Dr. Daniel Goleman defines emotional intelligence as “the ability to recognize, assess, control, and utilize your own emotions, and those of others.” In his book, he says that this is an underlying factor in being more successful in life.

What is Nonviolent (Compassionate) Communication?
With Nonviolent Communication (NVC) we learn to hear our own deeper needs and those of others. Through its emphasis on deep listening—to ourselves as well as others—NVC helps us discover the depth of our own compassion. This language reveals the awareness that all human beings are only trying to honor universal values and needs, every minute, every day.   www.cnvc.org

Who should participate in relationship coaching?
Parties participating in coaching sessions must be in good mental health (i.e., free from alcohol or substance abuse and compulsive behaviors (gambling and sexual). The relationship must be free of physical and/or emotional abuse. 

What is mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary process whereby a neutral third party facilitates a meeting between the disputants. The mediator’s role is to guide disputants toward cooperative negotiation. This includes helping disputants understand the other party’s perspective and move on to creatively exploring possible solutions for their dispute.

What does a mediator do?
The mediator facilitates the process so that the parties have every opportunity to brainstorm ideas and then make informed, thoughtful decisions. Mediators do not take sides or decide how a dispute will be resolved. Nor do mediators attempt to find right and wrong. The mediator may suggest possible resolutions, but the parties maintain full control over the outcome, creating solutions which all parties can live with.