What Is the Gottman Sound Relationship House? A Clinician’s Honest Guide
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
The Sound Relationship House Is a Map, Not a Magic Spell If you have ever
Communication & Conflict
Empathi's Communication & Conflict
What Is a Repair Attempt? The Single Most Important Skill in Your Relationship
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
A repair attempt is the single strongest predictor of relationship success. Learn what repair attempts are, why they work at a biological level, and how to start making them today.
What Is Healthy Communication? It Is Biological, Not Behavioral (A Couples Therapist Explains)
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
The Biggest Lie in Couples Therapy (and Why You Believed It) Here is the lie:
How to Have a Healthy Argument: A Couples Therapist’s Step-by-Step Guide
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
The content of your argument is almost completely irrelevant. Learn the biological protocol that attachment science says you must follow to argue productively, including the 90-second RAVE method that actually works when your nervous system is on fire.
How to Deal With a Partner Who Won’t Communicate
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
Your partner’s silence is not apathy. It is a nervous system in survival mode. Here is what attachment science says about communication shutdown, and how to actually reach a partner who has gone quiet.
How to Communicate Your Needs Without Nagging (A Couples Therapist’s Guide)
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
You have real needs in your relationship. The problem isn’t that you have them. It’s that the way you’re expressing them keeps triggering the exact opposite of what you want. A couples therapist with 16+ years of experience explains the attachment science behind the pursue-withdraw cycle, and offers a structural shift for communicating needs without falling into protest behavior.
How to Stop Fighting in a Relationship: A Therapist’s Guide to Breaking the Cycle
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
The fight is never about the dishes. A licensed therapist explains the attachment science behind why couples fight, the difference between content and dynamic, and the exact protocol to stop the cycle.
What Is Healthy Conflict in a Relationship?
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
Healthy conflict is not the absence of fighting. It is the presence of repair. Learn what attachment science says about how securely attached couples fight differently, and the specific steps you can take to transform destructive patterns into deeper connection.
What Is Conflict Avoidance? And Why It’s Quietly Destroying Your Relationship
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
Conflict avoidance is not a personality trait. It is a nervous system in survival mode. Here is what attachment science says about why you avoid conflict, how the Withdrawer pattern works, and what it costs your relationship over time.
What Is the Silent Treatment? The Biology Behind Your Partner’s Silence
Figs O'Sullivan
April 16, 2026
The silent treatment is not a character flaw. It is a nervous system in survival mode. Learn what attachment science reveals about why your partner goes silent, and what to do about it.
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Featured Articles
Love Matters!
Figs O'Sullivan
May 17, 2016
I made this video to give prospective clients, and anyone curious about attachment-focused couples therapy,
