Interpersonal Communication and Therapy Concepts

A therapy approach focusing on how relational experiences and thoughts impact circumstances.

Ways people manage relationships, which can be adaptive or maladaptive.

The exchange of ideas, facts, feelings, or impressions, creating shared understanding.

A model involving sender, receiver, message (verbal/nonverbal), feedback, and noise.

Converting thoughts into a message that can be communicated to others.

Interpreting a message that has been received.

The basic transmission of a message by a sender to a receiver through any medium.

Positive social interactions increase well-being and life satisfaction.

A communication style characterized by avoiding influence and showing disinterest in discussion.

Focusing on factual observations without adding interpretations or evaluations.

Expressed feelings without placing blame or making judgments.

Clarifying your needs and giving others the chance to meet them.

Asking for what you need rather than expecting something to happen forcefully.

Disagreements arising from incompatible goals, limited resources, or conflicting viewpoints in interactions.

A communication style that largely depends upon the receiver to assume more responsibility, with the sender making limited statements or opinions.

Distinguishing between factual observation (what happened) and personal interpretations (interpreting why something happened).

A one-way communication style used to direct and gain compliance. It emphasizes power and minimal feedback.

A two-way communication style, focusing on information sharing and mutual understanding. It encourages input from others.

A style of communication used to set schedules and enforce organizational rules. Information is presented formally with possible company standards.

A high-energy, inspirational style used to motivate action. Useful in crisis situations.

A deferential and non-directive communication style, characterized by letting others take the lead.

Clear, accurate, and considerate communication that avoids misunderstandings and respects others.

Mistakes that can occur at any stage of the communication process, like sender misunderstandings or receiver inattention.

The receiver's response to a message, indicating understanding and action.

Making assumptions without evidence, often based on mind-reading or fortune-telling.

Assuming you know what someone is thinking, even without them telling you.

Predicting future events without any real basis, often to avoid challenges.

Exaggerating negative aspects while minimizing positive ones.

Letting feelings dictate your conclusions about yourself or situations.

Challenging assumptions by considering facts and asking questions.

Recognizing and replacing negative thoughts with more realistic ones.

Separating feelings from facts and recognizing emotions don't always reflect reality.

Thoughts about what you must do, often causing worry, anxiety, guilt, or a feeling of constant failure.

Judging yourself or others based on a single action, ignoring other aspects of their character.

Taking full blame for something that was influenced by many external factors.

Unrealistic or negative thought patterns that can affect mental health.

Pay attention to the thoughts that cause anxiety, negativity, or depression.

Understand how distorted thinking can lead to poor decisions and contribute to mental health issues.

Writing down your thoughts to gain more awareness of them.

Being present in the moment, observing thoughts without judgment.

A conflict-avoidant behavior where someone completely withdraws from a conversation, emotionally shutting down and refusing to respond, often creating distance and separation.

A technique for managing strong emotions by engaging calming activities like deep breathing, relaxation exercises, or taking a break from the situation.

A cognitive distortion where you view situations in extreme terms, either completely successful or completely failed, without acknowledging any middle ground.

A cognitive distortion where you make sweeping conclusions based on a single event or limited experiences, often using words like "always" or "never."

An emotion that contributes to stonewalling, where someone is dismissive, disrespectful, or critical, often driving their partner to withdraw.

Physiological self-soothing helps manage strong emotions by engaging calming activities like deep breathing, relaxation exercises, or taking a break from the situation. This allows for a calmer and more rational approach to conflict.

Rejecting their emotions, invalidating their feelings, and minimizing their experience can worsen the situation and make them feel unheard and unsafe.