How to divorce proof your Christmas
Published in Blog by Joanna Harrison on December 14th 2023
Joanna Harrison is a therapist in TR’s specialist Divorce and Separation Consultation Service. Here she explains how the service works and offers some advice on ‘divorce-proofing’ your Christmas.
TR provides couples with the space to think about whether or not to separate or, if they have made the decision, to be supported to do it in a better way by helping them to communicate.
We help couples to become less defensive, so they can make the decisions that need to be made.
We help couples to become less defensive, so they can make the decisions that need to be made. This helps them escape from prolonged legal costs and hostility which can make the process of divorce less expensive both financially and emotionally.
Tips to reduce conflict
Here are some tips for couples to help reduce relationships conflict over Christmas:
1. Share the load
Rather than let resentments build about how to manage the in-laws or unfair sharing of the Christmas load, make time before Christmas to discuss expectations and think together about how best to find creative solutions to potential challenges so that you can share the load.
2. Carve out time to talk and listen
With all the extra work and busy-ness that Christmas can involve, it can be hard to give each other time and space to listen to each other, which can lead to communication problems. Make sure to carve out dedicated time to listen to each other's point of view, and even if you don't agree with each other, to show you have heard each other.
3. Gift your relationship some specialist support
If you keep struggling with the same things with each other again and again and would like some help and relief with that, give your relationship the gift of some support in the New Year. That way you can make a dedicated time to focus with a couple counsellor or therapist on how to improve things.
Get the help and support you need
Find out more about our general clinical therapy services.
Find out about our Divorce and Separation Consultation service.
Joanna Harrison
Visiting Clinician
Joanna Harrison is a psychodynamically-trained senior couple therapist at Tavistock Relationships. She provides consultancy and support around the emotional aspects of divorce and separation, and has featured in broadcasts and press publications including 'The Times', 'Tatler' and 'The Telegraph'. Her book Five Arguments All Couples (Need To ) Have And Why The Washing Up Matters is out now published by Souvenir Press
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