Let's Talk Communication (Page 9)

Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor: Lillian Castro

Updated:

Ever wondered why some couples just click so well? It’s most likely because they have such great communication. Just ask our experts. Learning to communicate your thoughts and concerns in the right way can do wonders for any relationship.

As it happens, our writers help educate readers to do just that. Below, you’ll learn to foster healthy communication and strengthen relationships through mutual understanding.

It’s time to mend the disconnect. By applying our advice, couples can better listen, respond, and resolve conflict. Whether you need active listening techniques or emotional regulation strategies, you’ll find the insights to help you build communication rooted in honesty and respect.

Here you can discover ways to overcome everything from misunderstandings to more sensitive subjects like sexual challenges. Our writers also explore communication in the digital world, giving readers insight into the best ways to strike up conversations online.

321 Results

What Our Experts Say:

241.
We Hang Out a Lot But Haven’t Had Sex. How Do I Ask Him What He Wants?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I have been talking to a co-worker since December 2012. We didn't have sex and still have not, but we have been hanging out more and more. Now we sleep naked but just cuddle. He recently has been texting more, saying "Wish you were here." If he just wanted sex, he would have left a long time ago and we would not still be talking and hanging out. Why would he ask me to come over when he knows...

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242.
His Friends Keep Pulling Us Apart. Should I Be Worried?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: This guy and I have liked each other for about two and a half years now, but his friends keep pulling us apart. I'm scared he will soon lose his feelings for me. I've tried everything, but his friends have a strong control over him. Should I be worried the guy I love might move on and like another girl that his friends approve of? What can I do to get him to express his feelings for me without...

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243.
First Date Dilemmas: When He’s Not Your Type
Brian Rzepczynski

Brian Rzepczynski

You’re brimming with excitement as you prepare to go out on your first date with that interesting guy. The mystery and intrigue of the unknown makes those first encounters with a dating prospect exhilarating and full of possibility. But what do you do when you soon discover during your meeting with him that he’s not really boyfriend material? This scenario is one of those dating dilemmas that is often mishandled,...

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244.
My Girlfriend Hasn’t Come Out to Her Family. What Are Your Thoughts?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: My girlfriend and I have been together for about a year. There is one major issue: her coming out to her family. In the beginning, I was fine with it since I understand the coming-out process is hard. She said she can't see herself claiming to be bisexual or lesbian because she just doesn't know. She also told me we were fighting a lot recently and she doesn't want to come out to her parents and...

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245.
Marni Battista

Marni Battista

If you’re married or in a long-term relationship, there will come a time when you wake up to realize you may have gone from passion to partners. If you’re in a space where most of what you talk about are the logistics of life, sex seems like something you just “do” and you wish you could feel butterflies again. Well, it’s time to try a bit harder to keep the romantic flame burning. Just like a business cycle...

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246.
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

We all know the scenario. You’ve just returned from a party and are getting ready for bed when your partner makes a snide comment about something you said or did at the event. The sting makes hair rise on your back and you come out swinging in defensive quips. Before you know it, you are in a full-on relationship war. Old conflicts are being dug up and the war of words drags on. There’s this folklore that to...

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247.
I Feel I Should Know if This is Sexually Exclusive. What Do I Do?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I have been dating a guy I really like for almost a month now. Last weekend he had a friend that he didn’t offer many details about come and stay with him. We have not discussed being sexually exclusive, but I am not sure if I should approach the question of "Did they or didn’t they?” We have been sexually active together and I feel I should know if this is not exclusive sexually, but I don’t...

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248.
She Refuses to Text/Call First. Do I Always Have to Start the Conversation?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: We've been talking and stuff for a while, not official, but we've already had that initial first date and first few chats (it’s been a month). She refuses to text/call me first. I don't want her to think I'm clingy, nor do I want her to think she has complete control and she can ignore me for days and I'll always come running. She has hinted she won't text/call the guy first before, but I've...

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249.
I Haven’t Heard from Him. Is It Worth Contacting Him?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I have been hanging out with this guy off and on for a few months. He has been taking more initiative to get together. Last weekend we went out to dinner, which we never declared a "date,” but we ended up spending the rest of the evening together. By the end of the night, he began cuddling up with me (holding hands, running fingers through hair, legs intertwined). At the end of the night when he...

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250.
She Keeps Blowing Me Off. How Do I Tell Her How I Feel?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I’ve been dating this girl for almost two years. The thing is her ego is so big that she won’t listen to what I say or anything. She won’t tell me anything anymore. She won’t tell me I love you or that she doesn’t want to lose me. She blows me off. How do I tell her how I feel and make her see? -Emily (Georgia) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Dear Emily: And why, may I ask, do you love this...

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251.
How to Create a Good Relationship
Jonathan Welford

Jonathan Welford

This mystical question is commonly asked by my clients: “How do I create a good relationship?” Well, this is easier said than done. Film, TV and novels bombard us with idealistic images of romance and the “perfect” relationship, and these things set us up to fail. If we think back to the classic sitcom “Friends,” the on-again, off-again relationship of Rachel and Ross had us tuning in for years, as did Monica and...

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252.
Why We Need to Speak Taboo on a Date
David Wygant

David Wygant

The other day I was talking to a good friend of mine. We were talking about taboo subjects. And it’s funny because most people are afraid to talk about taboo subjects — especially when on a date. We're so afraid to talk about what we really want or how we really want to be treated. So we exchange the boring resumes. We talk a little bit about our job. Where we grew up. What we want to do in our life. But we...

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253.
My Ex is Still in Love with Me. What’s the Right Thing to Do?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: My ex is still in love me and I'm dating his best friend. About four or five months ago, I broke up with my boyfriend of seven months. We just weren't right anymore. Now a month and a half later, he confessed he has and always will love me. Note: I’m a teenager, so this is different dating than adults. What is the right thing to do? -Rebekah (United States) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Dear...

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254.
We Are in an Open Relationship. How Do I Convince Her I Won’t Leave?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I am a transgender. I have a lesbian partner named Jenny, and I have four kids. Jenny knows I am transgender. We are starting to talk marriage, as we have known each other all our lives and lived together for 15 years and waited until the laws changed to get married. But now Jenny is afraid I will fall for someone else and leave her. We have been in an open relationship and agreed to an open...

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255.
I’m Going to Florida with Him. Who Pays for What?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: In my 70s and dating a man in his 70s. We do not live together. I'm going to Florida with him in his car. He would be going down alone anyway. Should I pay for some of the travel expenses? How does traveling together work? Who pays what? -Louise (New York) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Dear Louise, Excellent question, young lady. Times have changed, but your man may be of the generation who...

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256.
Talking About Your Dating Past
Jonathan Welford

Jonathan Welford

It’s rare to find a gay virgin over 21. So with that in mind, the likelihood is the guy you're whispering sweet nothings to has heard those words before. If this has you clutching your pearls, just think back to your very own dating past. We’ve all more than likely been around the block a few times. Some of us will have taken a gentle stroll, and others will have clocked up more mileage than a NYC taxi cab. In...

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257.
She Won’t Have Sex With Me Again. What Should I Do?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I’m a 54-year-old man, and I have been dating a 61-year-old woman for five months. After two months, we had sex. She told me we had to back up a few steps. She will not have sex with me now. What should I do? -Joe (Ohio) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Joe, you need to keep the conversation going. She can’t ask for a do-over unless she explains the motivation of the player. Was there a rule...

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258.
My Woman Gets Crazy Every Morning. What’s Your Read On This?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: My woman gets nuts, like super totally crazy with rage and anger, every morning between 7 and 9. Most of the rest of the day she is sweet, sometimes going overboard to be super sweet. This has been happening over the past year or so. She is in her mid-40s. What is your read on this? -Earl (California) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Dear Morning Punching Bag, Your lady rails at sunrise....

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259.
I’m Nervous to Talk to Him. What Do We Talk About?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I just started dating one of my friend’s boyfriends. I haven't really talked to him in person before we started dating, but I have been going to school. I am too nervous to talk to him, so I try to avoid him as much as I can. But I want to start talking to him more and actually spend time with him. But I don't know what to talk about? And I don't know how to be affectionate with him in front of...

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260.
He Never Had a Conversation About Our Relationship. Did He Love Me?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I was with a man five years on and off. We lived together at one point. He lies to everyone about a drinking problem, which he's in AA for. At the end, he spent less time with me. He could never have a conversation about our relationship. I’m wondering if he did love me? -Theresa (New York) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Oh, Theresa, my stomach fell when I read your raw and honest question. “Did...

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261.
I Want Clarity On Where We Are Heading. What Should I Do?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: Dating a younger guy 10 years my junior. It’s been nine months and still no title or definition. He just says he cares for me a great deal and thinks of me often. I feel for him but want more clarity on where we are headed, if anywhere at all. What should I do? Give him more time or move on? -Yvette (Virginia) Dr. Wendy Walsh's Answer: Dear Yvette, First of all, I admire your patience....

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262.
4 Ways to Talk About Your Dating Past
Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Your dating past is always a tricky conversational topic to broach with a lady you’re going out with, but it’s even more problematic when you’re older and you have a long and extensive dating past to discuss. Here are a few important points to keep in mind to make this conversation go as smoothly as possible. 1. Give a summary and that’s it. You’re under no obligation to tell your new lady every single thing...

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263.
He Has Not Asked Me Out Again. Do I Go With It?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I met a guy and we hung out three times in two weeks. He text me about every day. On date three, we kissed and I kept it to that. He still text after that but less regularly. It has been a week and a half (not that long, but still) and he has not asked me out again. Do I ask him what's going on, do I just go with it, or do I stop responding? -Stacy (New Jersey) Dr. Wendy Walsh's...

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264.
How to Find Mr. Right
Jonathan Welford

Jonathan Welford

Mr. Right is out there, along with a host of Mr. Wrongs! Like a fairy tale princess, you may have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. The key to finding Mr. Right is simple — stop dating Mr. Wrong. I hear you say, “Oh, yeah! That’s really dumb advice." Well hear me out on this one. We all continually repeat the same behavior patterns, whether it be making a cup of tea or getting ready in the morning....

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265.
How Do I Get Him to Like Sports Other Than Football?
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

There’s no guarantee you will be able to get him to truly like many other sports if he’s an “all football all the time” kind of guy. You will never like Home Depot as much as DSW or the strip mall on the corner as much as the Galleria. There are just qualitative and stylistic differences that can’t be replicated. But it’s worth a shot. The way we learn to like something is to understand it. The way you get him to...

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266.
Men’s Biggest Missed Opportunity in Online Dating
Gina Stewart

Gina Stewart

While the mistakes men make in online dating could outnumber the national debt, there is one damning, fatal missed opportunity that supersedes all the rest. It's this (arms stretched open wide) big, people. This is because the biggest hurdle a man faces in online dating isn't figuring out what to write about himself or even cheesy unflattering pictures in his bathroom mirror (but please stop with these). No, the...

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267.
How to Tell Him You Want to Be Exclusive
Jonathan Welford

Jonathan Welford

You’ve met the guy of your dreams. You want to be exclusive, but you don’t know if he does. OK, the "exclusive" conversation can be as loaded as a double-barrel shotgun. Before you have it, consider what your definition of exclusive actually is. Are you expecting to move in together? A ring on your finger? A joint mortgage? These may all be questions that bubble up from having the conversation. Have your answers,...

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268.
Real-World Advice for Lesbian Love
Mary Gorham Malia

Mary Gorham Malia

If you’ve spent any time browsing the net for advice about lesbian relationships, you’ve probably run into plenty of advice that was just plain impractical. Ideas like taking your sweetie for a weekend get-away or preparing a homemade gourmet meal are great, but not everybody can do those things. What’s worse, these ideas miss the point. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways you can create a sense of closeness...

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269.
I Want to Be With Her Again. What Do I Do?
Dr. Wendy Walsh

Dr. Wendy Walsh

Reader Question: I used to date this girl named Jessica. We were planning on spending our lives together. One night while we were dating, I went to a basketball game and this girl started to converse with me. We got really close but nothing else happened. Jessica’s friend took a picture of me and sent it to her, and then Jessica broke up with me. I now date the girl because I needed closure after Jessica. She now...

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270.
How to Improve Your Marriage
Nick Slade

Nick Slade

Let’s face it, guys. Sometimes it feels like a success when we can have a conversation of three sentences with the wife without it turning into an argument. Needless to say, that’s not optimal. I know. You would rather stick needles in your eyes than sit down and try to discuss things with her. Talking about “feelings” and “needs” is just code for letting her rip you a new one in the nicest kind of way, and she...

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Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor-in-Chief

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com. She has been quoted by the Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, and AskMen, among others.

See Amber's full bio »

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