How to Fight Nicely

John and Julie Gottman have studied relationships for 40 years. They have concluded that key to a relationship's success is not whether the couple has conflicts because all couples do, but how they're addressed. In a recent post, I offer a sample dialogue, but the example was a relatively easy one: The partners disagree about how often to see the relatives.

My Psychology Today article today presents three thornier conflicts: about sex, about money, and about parenting. Most of my clients learn best by example, so it provides sample dialogues plus the embedded principles.