I have often been asked to give tips on ways couples can avoid explosive arguments. Many partners want to be able to talk about difficult matters without the threat of misunderstanding and eventual cold war. Some couples have such toxic relationships that communication about anything AT ALL is an uphill challenge. With this in mind, I want to give you a few techniques to help smooth out those difficult conversations. I have shared these with my clients, and many of them have had positive results. So please give them a try and let me know how they work for you!

1. Start gently

Do you find that many of your discussions with your spouse end the way they begin? If you start off blaming and accusatory, you’re almost guaranteed to end .........