Roubicek & Thacker Counseling

11/28/2025

This is the second in a series of follow-up blogs exploring practical strategies to combat the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in relationships. In our previous post, "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Relationship Patterns That Damage Trust," we identified criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling as destructive communication patterns that erode connection and intimacy.

After addressing criticism in our first follow-up, we now turn to defensiveness, a natural but harmful response that can shut down communication and prevent growth.

In this article, you'll discover how taking responsibility, even for small parts of a problem, can transform conflict into collaboration and strengthen your partnership.

Read more:

Does defensiveness shut down connection in your relationship? Discover how taking responsibility can transform conflict into collaboration and repair.

11/26/2025

Kids don’t need perfect parents; they need present ones. Validate feelings, keep routines steady, coordinate with school, and add professional support when symptoms stick around or impact daily life. We’re here to help you create a plan that fits your family.

11/24/2025

This is the first in a series of follow-up blogs exploring practical strategies to combat the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in relationships. In our previous post, "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Relationship Patterns That Damage Trust," we identified criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling as destructive communication patterns that erode connection and intimacy. Now, we're taking a deeper dive into each horseman, starting with criticism.

In this article, you'll learn how to recognize criticism in your relationship and discover actionable tools to replace blame with empathy, fostering stronger emotional safety and lasting connection.

Read more:

Are you tired of criticism creating distance in your relationship? Learn how gentle start-ups and empathy can replace blame with connection.

11/21/2025

People in relationships want to know that the other partner will be there for them, and each of these habits can quietly erode the connection and trust needed to believe that someone will be there for you.

The good news is that once we can recognize these patterns, we can also learn how to shift them.

Read more:

Are criticism, contempt, defensiveness, or stonewalling damaging your relationship? Learn how to recognize and repair these toxic communication patterns.

11/14/2025

What do you do when someone you care about is in a bad mood?

More often than not, we try to find solutions to take them out of that mood, and we try to fix things. I want you to take a moment and reflect on how that usually plays out. Sometimes it could be helpful. Other times, however, the situation progresses in a not-so-helpful way.

I get it, a lot of us are “fixers”, but let’s understand that maybe we don't have to fix it.

Read more:

Do you rush to fix loved ones' bad moods? Discover why presence trumps solutions and learn healthier ways to support others while caring for yourself.

11/12/2025

These four patterns can erode trust, but they’re learned, which means they can be unlearned.

Practice gentle start‑ups, own your part, express appreciation daily, and take regulated breaks before returning to the conversation. If these dynamics feel stuck, guided support can help you rebuild connection.

11/10/2025

There are many meanings for the word boundary.

In the world of therapy, boundaries mean respecting your limits. What you allow between yourself and others. What is your comfort, or how you would want others to treat you.

Boundaries hold great significance. They protect our peace and allow us to respect that of others. However, boundaries don’t exist everywhere. In fact, in some cultures, enforcing boundaries could be seen as a sign of disrespect. Maybe even rebellious.

Let’s explore that for a bit.

Read more:

Struggling with boundaries in collectivistic cultures? Learn about workable boundaries that honor both individual needs and cultural values.

11/07/2025

Self-regulation, or being able to regulate yourself and your emotions, is a worthwhile skill that requires self-awareness and the ability to know what tools in your toolkit will best serve you in a moment where dysregulation or feeling out of control can take place.

When we are better able to tune into how we’re feeling and navigate those feelings and sensations from a place of control, we can show up in more thoughtful ways.

Control through self-regulation leads to conscious choices and decreases the number of times you feel like you acted out of character or differently than you would have liked in a moment where you were overwhelmed by your emotional experience.

There are many ways to access self-regulation, and any given moment or new experience may bring an opportunity to learn new ways of coping and self-regulating.

Read more:

Struggling with overwhelming emotions? Learn essential self-regulation techniques to manage stress and show up thoughtfully in challenging moments.

11/03/2025

Do you remember a time when you felt so angry that it was hard to describe? The feeling was intense, raw, and overwhelming. What was that feeling? Was it anger, sadness, fear, or excitement?

Maybe it was an emotion you’ve never felt before, or perhaps you thought it was something else when in reality it was a completely different feeling. Before you can start regulating your emotions, it’s important to understand what you are feeling. Giving your emotion a name is essential. This is where the usefulness of a “feelings wheel” comes into play.

Let's explore the different categories of emotions.

Read more:

Struggling to name your emotions? Discover how primary and secondary emotions work and why emotional awareness is key to your healing journey.

10/31/2025

Are you someone who struggles to speak up about how you're really feeling—especially when you’re overwhelmed, scared, or sad? You’re not alone, and you’re in the right place.

Read more:

You can return to our homepage by clicking here, or you can try searching for the content you are seeking by clicking here.

10/27/2025

As we reflect on Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we honor the courage it takes to break the silence and choose healing.

You are not alone, and support is always here.