Couples can know exactly how their arguments go and still feel powerless to stop them. This episode explores the negative cycle in Emotionally Focused Therapy, including Sue Johnson’s “Protest Polka,” the pursue-withdraw pattern, Gottman’s bids for connection, and how criticism, defensiveness, silence, and pressure begin feeding each other. It explains how a missed bid or small moment of disconnection can take on much greater meaning once both partners start anticipating rejection, failure, criticism, or abandonment.

We also look at why insight alone often fails once the nervous system is activated, how therapists slow the cycle down to uncover the vulnerable emotions underneath anger and withdrawal, and how couples can recognize activation before the old pattern takes over. The goal is to help both partners see the cycle as it unfolds, communicate what is happening underneath their protective reactions, and create new interactions that feel safer and more connected.

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