Are You Stuck in a Pursuer-Distancer Dynamic? How to Break Free! | E386

Are You Stuck in a Pursuer-Distancer Dynamic? How to Break Free! | E386

As a couples counselor, I can tell you that one of the most pernicious and common relationship patterns that couples get stuck in is the pursuer-withdrawer dynamic. This happens when one partner handles conflict by approaching it head-on, and the other has a tendency to pull away, shut down, or withdraw. The more the pursuer pursues, the more the withdrawer withdraws, and the pattern can become very intense and even a little scary. The pursuer may start getting emotionally elevated, raising their voice, or even physically following their partner from room to room. The withdrawer, meanwhile, feels totally overwhelmed and unable to engage the more their partner pursues them. Nothing gets resolved, and typically, neither partner is fully aware of their own role in perpetuating the dynamic. Luckily, this is one of those problems that is totally solvable with the help of a good marriage counselor. When you understand why this relationship pattern happens, what your role is in the dynamic, and what you can do instead, everything can shift. On today's episode of the podcast, we're exploring how to break the pursuer-distancer pattern and create a healthier relationship where you can both feel heard, understood, and most of all, emotionally safe. I hope you'll join me! xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby P.S. — Listening to a podcast is a great starting point, but it's not enough to break a deeply entrenched pursuer-distancer pattern. If you would like to put a stop to this dynamic for good, schedule a free consultation with an expert couples counselor on my team.

Episoder(495)

Relationship Ambivalence: How to Get Clarity on Staying or Leaving | E471

Relationship Ambivalence: How to Get Clarity on Staying or Leaving | E471

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t know if I should stay, and I don’t know if I should go”? That painful in-between is called relationship ambivalence, and it can quietly drain years of y...

11 Sep 202554min

Undiagnosed ADHD: Why It’s Missed and How to Finally Get Clarity | E470

Undiagnosed ADHD: Why It’s Missed and How to Finally Get Clarity | E470

Do you ever feel like life is harder for you than it is for everyone else? On the outside you’re smart, capable, and creative. But inside you feel overwhelmed, scattered, and constantly behind. That c...

8 Sep 202558min

How to Make Up After a Fight: The Art of Repair in Strong Relationships | E469

How to Make Up After a Fight: The Art of Repair in Strong Relationships | E469

Have you ever had a blow-up with your partner and then sat in that heavy silence wondering what to do next? This episode is your guide to how to make up after a fight—and the real skill that keeps lov...

4 Sep 202553min

Breaking the Likability Trap: Overcoming Gender Double Standards | E468

Breaking the Likability Trap: Overcoming Gender Double Standards | E468

Have you ever felt like you just can’t win? If you’re too nice, people don’t take you seriously. If you’re too direct, suddenly you’re “too much.” For so many women, this double bind — rooted in gende...

1 Sep 202554min

When Anxious Meets Avoidant | LHS Classic E343

When Anxious Meets Avoidant | LHS Classic E343

This episode originally aired on April 3, 2023 (Episode 343), and we’re bringing it back because it resonated with so many of you. Whether you’re reflecting on a past relationship, navigating one righ...

25 Aug 20251h 1min

Feeling Behind? 5 Tips to Reset at Any Life Stage | E467

Feeling Behind? 5 Tips to Reset at Any Life Stage | E467

“Am I falling behind in life?” If you’ve ever looked around and thought everyone else is getting married, buying houses, and having babies while you’re still figuring things out, you’re not alone. ...

18 Aug 202557min

“I Love You... But I Don’t Like You”: Frustrating Relationships, and How to Deal | E466

“I Love You... But I Don’t Like You”: Frustrating Relationships, and How to Deal | E466

Have you ever looked at your partner and thought, “I love you… but right now, I really don’t like you”? It doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed. It simply means you’re human. In this episode, w...

18 Aug 202542min

Are You Mad at Me? How to Calm People‑Pleasing Anxiety | Meg Josephson | Happiness | E465

Are You Mad at Me? How to Calm People‑Pleasing Anxiety | Meg Josephson | Happiness | E465

Have you ever stared at your phone, rereading a text that ended with a period and spiraled into, “Oh no… are they mad at me?” Or maybe someone didn’t heart your Instagram story, and suddenly your nerv...

18 Aug 202555min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
min-barneoppdragelse
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dannet-uten-piano
alt-fortalt
frokostshowet-pa-p5
fladseth
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
opptur-med-annette-og-ingeborg