Couples
Ramon Presson has counseled, taught, and written extensively on marital communication. Love Talks for Couples and More Love Talks for Couples are in their third printing.
Communication is the bridge to intimacy. It is foundational to marital success. There are actually 3 levels of communication (Disclosure, Negotiation, and Conflict Resolution) which are vital to marital health. The good news is that all three levels are within your reach. They can be learned. They can be improved.
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Rebuilding Trust
One of Presson’s specialties is enabling a troubled relationship to rebuild trust where trust has been damaged. Just like we’ve seen tornadoes in middle Tennessee reduce 2-story brick homes to rubble within seconds, trust can be leveled in a moment. Just as a storm-stricken home or neighborhood cannot be rebuilt instantly, so the rebuilding of trust is a slow and gradual process. But it’s worth the effort. Sometimes trust is not demolished in a single moment or by a single sin but is eroded gradually over time. This too requires wise guidance and dedicated work by the couple. But it’s worth it.
Re-creating Connection
In what Presson calls the Five Love Languishes, most couple complaints stem from feeling that one or more of the following needs is not being met: Attention, Acceptance, Appreciation, Affection, Allowing. Good marriage counseling seeks to note and address where valid needs and reasonable requests for connection are not being met.