At least once a week, I get asked some version of the question, “What’s the point of talking about the most painful, shameful, hurtful, sad moment of my life?” Followed by a comment like “All that’s gonna do is make me mad or make me feel bad.”

A few years ago, I met a young man who asked me a question that gave me a moment of pause. He asked he hesitantly "Dr. Bennett . . . can you tell me how to not be afraid?" He approached me in a timid seemingly conflicted manner.

In my couples and family work, the most common issue that comes up is poor or lack of communication. The communication skill that is often the hardest to learn is ACTIVE LISTENING.