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Dr. Teresa Edwards

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United States
Tulsa, OK
Dr. Teresa Edwards

Oklahoma licensed therapist helping individuals & couples heal and grow. Wife, professor, cat mom, nature lover.

Dr. Edwards uses the Gottman Method for marriage therapy and has completed the Level II Gottman certification training.

11/21/2025

Some voices in the field suggest that it’s okay to hold on to bitterness after you’ve been hurt. And yes—it is normal to feel bitter in the short-term. Bitterness is a natural emotional reaction to betrayal, injustice, or pain.

But here’s the problem: living in bitterness is dangerous—mentally, physically, and emotionally.

📌 Research shows that holding on to bitterness keeps the body stuck in a heightened stress state. This ongoing fight-or-flight response has been linked to:

• Higher blood pressure and cardiovascular strain
• Weakened immune functioning
• Sleep disturbances and fatigue
• Higher risk of depression and anxiety
• Cognitive decline due to ongoing stress hormones affecting the brain

In fact, psychologists call bitterness one of the most toxic emotions for overall health. Studies have found that long-term bitterness is correlated with higher rates of illness and can even shorten lifespan.

So yes—feel it, name it, honor it. That’s human.
But don’t build your home there. For the sake of your body, your mind, and your relationships, let yourself move toward release.

👉 Freedom isn’t pretending the hurt didn’t happen—it’s refusing to let bitterness be your permanent address.

11/20/2025

The holidays often bring a mix of emotions—joy and connection, yes, but also pressure, expectations, and moments of overwhelm. It’s easy to get caught up in doing for everyone else and forget that you need care, too.

This Thanksgiving season, give yourself permission to pause. Self-care doesn’t mean pulling away from your loved ones—it means nurturing yourself so you can truly be with them. When you fill your own cup, you show up calmer, kinder, and more present.

💛 Take breaks when you need to—step outside for fresh air, listen to music, or simply rest.
💛 Set limits with love—saying “no” to overcommitting is saying “yes” to peace.
💛 Breathe and savor the small moments—gratitude often lives in the little things.

When you care for yourself, you create space for gratitude, genuine connection, and a peaceful heart. That’s the real gift you bring to the table this holiday season. 🦃✨

11/18/2025

Dr. John Gottman’s research on thousands of couples discovered what he calls the magic ratio: five to one. 📊

For a relationship to stay strong, couples need at least five positive interactions for every one negative.

👉 Why? Positive interactions—like kindness, humor, affection, and appreciation—help buffer the inevitable conflicts that all couples face. When the positives outweigh the negatives, couples build trust, safety, and emotional connection that lasts.

The takeaway: it’s not about avoiding conflict. It’s about making sure the balance consistently tips toward connection, care, and repair. ❤️

11/11/2025

One of the biggest mistakes I see in couples work?
👉 Trying to fix your partner instead of reflecting on how you contribute to the cycle.

🔁 I once worked with a couple—let’s call them Sarah and Marcus. Sarah felt unseen. Marcus felt constantly criticized.

In every session, they pointed fingers. “If he would just listen…” “If she wouldn’t put me down…”

The turning point came when Sarah said,
🗣️ “I realized I was waiting for Marcus to change so I could feel better—without acknowledging how my criticism was shutting him down.”

That moment of ownership shifted everything.
Not because Marcus suddenly became perfect.
But because Sarah began to focus on her part of the dance.

💡Relationships are co-created.
When one person takes responsibility, the dynamic starts to change. You can’t grow connection by keeping score.

You grow it by asking yourself:
🔹 What am I bringing into this interaction?
🔹 How might my words, tone, or reactions impact the person I love?

🧠 Real change starts with you—not with fixing them.

11/06/2025

In every relationship pattern, both people shape the outcome. Relationships are systems—what one person does inevitably influences the other. That’s why cycles form, and why they can feel so hard to break.

If you want the cycle to change, the most powerful step is to start with the only part you truly control—yourself. Shifting even one piece of the system can create new possibilities for how the whole pattern unfolds.

📌 Owning your role in a conversation gone wrong isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
📌 It’s not about fault—it’s about growth.
📌 Small changes in your responses can spark big shifts in the dynamic.

When you choose to show up differently—with more patience, curiosity, or clarity—you open the door for a new kind of interaction. Change may not happen overnight, but it starts with one person being willing to step out of the old loop and try something new.

✨ Important note: This principle applies to everyday conflict and communication patterns—not abuse. Abuse is never your fault and never excused by “circular” patterns. Responsibility for abusive behavior rests solely on the person choosing to harm.

11/04/2025

Feeling a little disconnected lately? 🍂 Use these questions to spark reconnection this season.

Fall is the perfect time to slow down, cozy up, and check in with each other. Not about chores or schedules—but about what’s happening in your hearts.

You don’t need a big date night to feel close—just a quiet moment, a warm drink, and a little curiosity.

Save this post for your next walk, dinner, or coffee chat.

10/30/2025

Each day this week, take turns sharing:
❤️ One characteristic you’re grateful for in your partner

November is a natural time to reflect. As the days grow shorter and the world slows down, we’re invited to turn inward—toward our homes, our hearts, and our most meaningful relationships. 🍂

🤍 Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools for emotional connection. When we pause to notice the good in our partner—not just the big gestures, but the everyday kindnesses—we help them feel seen, appreciated, and loved. And that kind of emotional safety strengthens the bond between us.

Whether it’s a simple “Thank you for being patient with me today,” or “I’m so grateful for how you made me laugh when I needed it,” these small acknowledgments can create powerful ripples in your relationship.

✨ Let this be your gentle challenge this week:
Slow down.
Speak your gratitude out loud.

Make appreciation a daily rhythm—not just a seasonal one.
Love grows where it’s nurtured. And thankfulness is one of the most beautiful ways we nurture it.

10/27/2025

“I shouldn’t have to ask.”

I used to believe that, too, when I was younger. I often hoped my needs would just be noticed and met without having to say a word. But over time—and through a lot of healing—I learned that expecting someone to read my mind only led to disappointment and distance.

The truth is: asking for what you need isn’t weakness—it’s one of the most loving, honest things you can do. 💬🧡

Even now, I have moments where it’s hard to speak up. But I’ve learned that Chris isn’t a mind reader (and I’m not either). Some of our most connected moments have come when I’ve said something like:

❤️ “I’m feeling overwhelmed today. Could you help me with dinner tonight?”
❤️ “I’m a little down—do you have a few minutes to talk?”
❤️ “I miss our connection. Can we carve out some time this weekend just for us?”

These aren’t demands—they’re invitations.
And they open the door to deeper understanding and intimacy.

So let’s normalize asking. Let’s normalize clear, kind, direct communication. It’s not weak—it’s wise. 🤍

10/23/2025

When we get stuck seeing our partner through a negative lens, even small things can feel big.

This is called negative sentiment override—and it happens when we start assuming the worst about our partner’s motives or actions. Over time, it can wear down fondness and connection, making minor disagreements feel like major battles.

It’s not always easy to shift out of this mindset—but it is possible. Start by increasing positive interactions, noticing what your partner is doing right, and practicing curiosity instead of criticism.

Sometimes the most powerful shift in a relationship begins with a new interpretation. 💭💗

10/20/2025

Marriage is a partnership, not a solo act.

Like any strong team, there are moments when we set aside personal preferences to support what’s best for the relationship.

Compromise isn’t about losing—it’s about choosing love over ego and building something lasting together. ✨ The best compromises aren’t about one person giving in—they’re about both partners creating a solution they can stand behind.

A thriving marriage takes flexibility, humility, and a commitment to the “we.” 🤝❤️

What’s one small way you and your partner practice the “we” in your daily life?

10/16/2025

One of the most powerful (and underrated!) things couples can do for their relationship?

✨ Make time for fun.

Not the “run errands together” kind of time—but real, lighthearted play.

Chris and I have learned over the years that some of our best connection moments happen when we’re simply having fun.

Whether we’re exploring a quirky historic town, playing a board game we’re both way too competitive about, or just dancing around the kitchen to 80s music—we’re not talking about deep things or solving problems… we’re just enjoying each other. And that matters. 💛

Setting aside space to laugh, relax, and just be together has strengthened our bond more than any heavy conversation ever could. It doesn’t mean we ignore challenges—it means we keep our friendship strong enough to face them together.

So go for a walk, share a silly inside joke, make pancakes for dinner—whatever brings joy. Just don’t forget to be friends, not just partners. 💫

10/13/2025

I often hear people label situations traumatic that, clinically, don’t meet the definition of trauma. As a therapist, this is concerning because when we overuse the word, we unintentionally water down its significance for those who’ve experienced real, life-altering trauma.

💡 What is a traumatic event (clinically):
A traumatic event is an experience—or series of experiences—that is extremely threatening or horrific (International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision) and overwhelmingly destroys a person’s sense of safety and ability to cope. These are situations in which a person experiences intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

🚫 What isn’t a traumatic event:
Just because a situation is painful, unfair, or hurtful doesn't mean it's traumatic. Disappointments, relationship struggles, job loss, or even conflict—while very real and worth processing—don’t always meet the clinical threshold to be considered traumatic.

Why this matters:
In sum, a traumatic event is an intensely stressful event that evokes overwhelming fear, helplessness, or horror and can have lasting adverse effects on an individual’s mental and physical well-being. By reserving the term traumatic and trauma for experiences that truly meet that criteria, we protect its meaning and ensure those living with its impact are understood and supported.
💬 Pain matters.
💬 Hurt matters.
💬 But trauma is different—and it deserves to be named accurately.

Address

Tulsa, OK

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm

Website

http://www.drtedwards.com/

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