A Couples Communication and Connection Workshop
Welcome to Pieces of Understanding
Understanding does not mean excusing harmful behavior or avoiding accountability. It means becoming curious about the patterns, emotions, needs, and past experiences that may be influencing how you and your partner respond to one another.
Many couples become caught in repetitive cycles—pursue/withdraw, louder/shut down, seeking reassurance/feeling criticized or overwhelmed. These patterns often hide the deeper needs and vulnerabilities seeking to be heard within the relationship.
Pieces of Understanding offers couples a structured and supportive environment to recognize these cycles and practice healthier ways of communicating. Together, we move toward a shared language of empathy and connection.
Who This Workshop Is For
This workshop is designed for adult couples from all backgrounds who are looking to deepen their connection and move beyond repetitive conflicts. We welcome dating, engaged, and married couples, including LGBTQIA+ relationships, monogamous and consensually non-monogamous structures, and individuals from diverse racial, cultural, and neurodivergent backgrounds. You do not need to be married or living together to participate.
- Want to improve communication and emotional connection
- Frequently feel misunderstood, dismissed, or unheard
- Become stuck in repetitive arguments
- Struggle to discuss difficult topics without escalating or shutting down
- Want to learn how to take healthy breaks during conflict
- Have difficulty identifying or expressing emotional needs
- Want to understand one another’s triggers and protective responses
- Struggle with defensiveness, criticism, withdrawal, or avoidance
- Want to build greater emotional safety and mutual understanding
- Interested in learning tools for independent practice or therapy
Topics We May Explore
The Cycle
Understanding recurring conflict cycles and identifying what happens beneath the argument.
Connection
Practicing assertive communication, reflective listening, and expressing needs without blame.
Regulation
Emotional and nervous-system regulation, identifying triggers, and taking healthy breaks.
Healing
Understanding childhood wounds, childhood emotional responses, and repairing after conflict.
Additional topics include: Recognizing verbal and nonverbal communication, validation without automatically agreeing, building empathy and curiosity, supporting individual growth, and identifying issues for further therapy.
What This Workshop Is Not
- The workshop is not couples therapy
- Participation does not establish an ongoing therapist-client relationship
- The workshop is not designed to determine which partner is right or wrong
- The workshop does not excuse harmful or abusive behavior
- Partners will not be asked to become responsible for healing one another
- The workshop is not a substitute for individual therapy, medical care, or crisis services
- The workshop is not appropriate for relationships involving active abuse, coercive control, intimidation, or fear for personal safety
Important Relationship Safety Information
This workshop may not be appropriate when there is active intimate-partner violence, coercive control, stalking, intimidation, threats, or fear of retaliation. In these situations, joint relationship work may increase risk. An individual consultation or specialized support may be recommended instead.
- Participation may require a brief screening
- Each partner may be asked to complete information separately
- The facilitator may determine that the workshop is not an appropriate or safe fit
- A referral to individual therapy, couples therapy, or specialized support may be provided when appropriate
Workshop Details
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Age requirement: Both partners must be 18 or older
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Format: Virtual
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Location requirement: Both partners must be physically located in Arizona, Minnesota, or Ohio during each session
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Workshop length: 8 sessions
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Meeting schedule: Biweekly
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Program duration: Approximately 16 weeks
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Enrollment: Limited number of couples
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Fee: $30 per person, per session
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Total fee per couple: $60 per session
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Estimated total program cost: $240 per person or $480 per couple
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Diagnosis requirement: No mental health diagnosis is required
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Screening: A brief screening or consultation will be required before enrollment
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Participation: Both partners must independently agree to attend
Accessibility and Participation
Couples can share accessibility, sensory, communication, or participation needs during registration, with examples such as written instructions, captions, additional processing time, camera flexibility when appropriate, clear agendas, predictable structure, breaks when needed, alternative ways to complete written exercises, and support for different communication styles. Accommodations will be considered within the scope and structure of the workshop.
Interested in Joining?
Understanding one another does not require you to agree about everything. It begins with learning how to slow down, listen differently, communicate clearly, and approach conflict as a shared pattern rather than a battle to win.
Submitting an interest form does not guarantee placement, register you for the workshop, or establish a therapist-client relationship. Both partners may be required to complete screening and registration before participation.
Crisis and Safety Notice: This form and website are not monitored for emergencies. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988, call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room. If you are experiencing relationship violence or are concerned about your immediate safety, contact emergency services or an appropriate domestic-violence resource.