Ep.98 – Dr. Jennifer Dragonette – How To Stay Connected in Your Most Important Relationship

Podcast

Mar 16

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Parents, do you ever feel like passing ships in the night while trying to raise active kids with your spouse/partner? How can you stay connected in your relationship during this stage of life, so we don't lose each other once our kids are grown?

Dr. Jennifer Dragonette is a licensed psychologist with expertise in relationship dynamics and trauma and is trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, specializing in working with families.

Our relationships are the foundation of our health and well-being, which is why investing in our most essential relationship with our spouse/partner a priority is critical. According to Jennifer, at the heart of this foundational relationship is friendship.

Jennifer discusses how we as parents need to track changes with our spouse and partner the same as we track changes in our kids as they grow up. The person you married 20 years ago is not who you are married to today, nor will they be the same person in another 20 years. The bottom line, people change, and we need to adjust and change with them even as we change ourselves.

According to Jennifer's work, awareness sits at the forefront of change, especially regarding listening. The key to being an active listener is being aware of the thoughts going on within your mind but having the ability to hear and, more importantly, validate what your significant other is telling you.

Jennifer talks in depth about family systems, what they are, tips for building them, and how they can help us to avoid avoidable suffering. However, similar to how we change and our kids grow, family systems need to be adaptable and change with the shifting stages of life.

Please enjoy my conversation with Jennifer Dragonette on how to stay connected in your relationship.