Enhancing Your Ability to Resolve Conflict and Improve Connection Within Relationships

Amanda Brashear • November 15, 2024

Conflict Resolution and Improving Relationships

Conflict can arise in many types of relationships, such as personal, professional, or daily interactions with others. It is important to understand why conflict may arise and find effective ways to resolve conflict. Conflict Resolution is the process used to find a peaceful outcome.

Some effective strategies include focusing on the problem, not the person. It is important to recognize when aggressive communication and personal insults are implemented this can escalate or sustain the conflict. It is key to know when to take a break, walk away, and return at a later time to continue to resolve the issue at hand.

Other effective strategies can be to utilize assertiveness skills, which include implementing reflective listening and “I” statements. Reflective listening is where you reflect back by stating what the other person has expressed in your own words and confirming your understanding to their side before expressing and sharing your side. “I” statements is a sentence format that takes responsibility for your emotions rather than blaming the other person. This can help reduce the other person from becoming defensive.

Knowing why you are upset is important before working towards conflict resolution. For example, are you really upset that the trash was not taken out? Or are you upset because you feel like there is an uneven share of housework? Additionally, focusing on one issue at a time and not multiple problems that have been left undiscussed is shown to be most effective.This can also help to reduce the other person’s defense mechanisms to be activated and increase the chances of having successful conflict resolution to the problem. Working towards a resolution does not always look like completely agreeing, but finding a compromisable ground that benefits both sides. There isn’t always a perfect answer to a resolution and at the end of the day we have to remind ourselves, we are all human.

Call our office at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment with one of our providers if you feel like you have been struggling with implementing conflict resolution. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for over 22 years!

Supporting Articles:

https://www.pon.harvard.edu/daily/conflict-resolution/what-is-conflict-resolution-and-how-does-it-work/

https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/news/2022/09/13/why-conflict-resolution-important

https://www.nu.edu/blog/seven-conflict-resolution-tips-for-couples/

https://positivepsychology.com/conflict-resolution-relationships/

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The Benefits of Therapy

By Chelsea Conner • September 8, 2025

The Benefits to Therapy and Why It Is Important to Seek out Help

How to Build Success When Recovering from Substance Use

By Chelsea Conner • August 14, 2025

Substance use is a growing health concern. 47.7 million Americans reported the use of illegal substances according to a study conducted in 2023 by The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. A Substance Use Disorder (SUD), defined by The American Psychiatric Association, is ‘a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences.’ The American Psychiatric Association recognizes that someone who has a SUD has an intense urge to engage in any of the listed substances - alcohol, tobacco, or psychoactive substances that impact daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, and overall health. Another term well known for SUD is addiction. There is no single cause for a SUD but rather, a combination of factors can contribute to its development. Self-medication, genetics, peer pressure, curiosity, performance enhancement, and medical use turned misuse can all lead to someone engaging in problem use with substances and even addiction. Another study conducted in 2023 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, showed that 70% of people who sought out treatment for substance abuse/misuse reported improvements to their overall health and functioning within the first year of treatment. There are several available options for treatment, including outpatient care, intensive outpatient care, and in-patient care treatment. It is also important to have a collaborative approach when it comes to treatment for a SUD to have the best outcome, which can include medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, peer support, AA/NA meetings, sponsor, and a healthy support system within interpersonal relationships. It's important to remember that addiction is not a moral failing, it's a complex medical condition that can affect anyone. Compassion, understanding, and proper treatment are essential to recovery and can lead to successful outcomes. Some treatment modalities that have shown success in therapy when treating SUD include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Contingency Management (CM), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as well as a facilitated 12 step program and a trauma focused lens. Whether you're concerned about your own substance use or worried about a loved one, help is available and healing is possible! Call our office at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment to work with one of our providers to start your healing journey to recovery. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for over 22 years! Articles and Resources: https://drugabusestatistics.org/ https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction-substance-use-disorders/what-is-a-substance-use-disorder https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6175215/ https://www.pyramid-healthcare.com/blog/2019/02/12/self-medication-and-addiction/ https://americanaddictioncenters.org/therapy-treatment