Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
Why should couples talk less and touch more? How has new neuroscience research changed standard couple’s therapy? How is solely using logical communication potentially harmful to the relationship?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok speaks with John Howard about his book More Than Words.
Podcast Sponsor: Brighter Vision
When you’re in private practice it can be tough to find the time to even review your marketing efforts, let alone to make improvements where needed.
Whether you are a seasoned clinician with an existing website in need of a refresh, or a new therapist building a website for the first time, Brighter Vision is the perfect solution.
By first understanding your practice and what makes it unique, Brighter Vision’s team of developers are then able to create you a beautiful website that will attract your ideal clients and get them to contact you. Better yet, they also provide unlimited tech support to make sure it’s always up-to-date, and professional search engine optimization to make sure you rank high in online searches – all at no additional cost.
But best of all, we’ve worked with them to create a special offer just for Practice of the Practice listeners. Get your first 3 months of website service completely FREE. To take advantage of this amazing deal, head to brightervision.com/joe.
Meet John Howard
John Howard is an internationally-recognized therapist, wellness expert, and educator who uses the latest science to help couples have stronger relationships. He is the CEO of PRESENCE, a wellness center in Austin, TX dedicated to helping people achieve optimal physical, mental, and relationship health.
John is the host of The John Howard Show, a wellness podcast, and the creator of the Ready Set Love® series of online programs for couples. He is also the author of More than Words: The Science of Deepening Love and Connection in any Relationship — listeners who order the book will receive a free chapter on attachment theory.
Visit John Howard’s website and see also the PRESENCE website.
Connect with John on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
In This Podcast
- About More Than Words
- Talk less, touch more
- Contested couple’s therapy strategies
- John’s advice to private practitioners
About More Than Words
The book More Than Words shares the latest scientific discoveries about connection and relationships with the general public.
This powerful information about how to promote connection in any relationship hasn’t made its way to the public enough … what I have put in the book are the very latest approaches based on neuroscience and modern attachment theory when it comes to promoting connection. (John Howard)
The brain is primarily looking for a sense of safety and security when it is around other people. Once the brain feels safe, it creates a connection, and the pathways of relationships open up.
However, if people do not feel emotionally safe with one another the connection closes, and verbal communication becomes difficult.
How do you create a deep level connection, nervous system to nervous system, that promotes the goodwill that you need? That’s the first point of the book. (John Howard)
The second aim of the book is to share this information with a more diverse range of couples and include different types of love and connection into the bigger conversations around relationship health.
Talk less, touch more
The current culture prioritizes logical communication over emotional communication, and this can lead to some issues.
The brain and the nervous system want to feel safe with someone. That safety cannot be achieved through communication alone. It also needs touch, quality time, and nervous system regulation.
The research is clear that if we talk a little less and touch a little more, we can communicate directly to the subconscious [that], “I care about you, I’m here, I love you, I’m paying attention to you”. (John Howard)
People might not use those words because they feel awkward, but taking the time to be fully present, slow down, and be in the moment with your partner can create that co-nervous system regulation as well as a sense of mutual safety.
The research shows that connection is not a function of time [spent]. It’s much more a function of how present we are in the moment with each other. (John Howard)
Contested couple’s therapy strategies
Neuroscience has changed couple’s therapy, and some of the older therapeutic strategies have gone scientifically “out of date”.
The old style of couple’s therapy where you talk about your problems and then the therapist sends you home with some stuff to practice is not ideal in terms of shifting automatic behavior. (John Howard)
Modern couple’s therapy has become more experiential through neuroscience.
This means that couples are taught how to care for one another while dealing with conflict, using their body language, warming their tone of voice, and regulating their nervous systems together instead of remaining distant and detached.
John’s advice to private practitioners
In graduate school, people are taught theoretical orientations separately from neuroscience findings.
Now we understand that there is an intersection between physical and mental wellness, so consider an integrated and comprehensive treatment plan.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Useful Links mentioned in this episode:
- Visit John Howard’s website and see also the PRESENCE website.
- Connect with John on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
- Get your first 3 months of website service completely FREE. Head to brightervision.com/joe.
Check out these additional resources:
- Jake Kelfer on Working with Kobe Bryant and Writing Books | Pop Bonus
- Apply to work together
- Sign up for Next Level Practice — Cohort Open!
- Events – click on the event’s dropdown
- Sign up to join the free webinars and events here
- Podcast Launch School
- Practice of the Practice Podcast Network
- Free resources to help you start, grow, and scale
- Apply to work with us — decision-making matrix for your next steps
Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners that are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
Thanks For Listening!
Feel free to leave a comment below or share this podcast on social media by clicking on one of the social media links below! Alternatively, leave a review on iTunes and subscribe!
