Therapy for Conflict Management

Experiencing conflict is a fact of life - I’m yet to meet someone who has experienced no conflict whatsoever. Trouble, disappointment, and fighting are some of the negative associations we make to the idea of conflict. Simply put, conflict is the gap between expectations and reality.

It can show up in many different ways such as disagreements at work, a misunderstanding with your romantic partner, the classic family drama, or even contradictions within yourself. The way that we deal with conflict varies from one person to another, and the truth is that it’s unavoidable.

Unlike what many of us learned as kids, everybody is not always a winner. That being said, it is possible to learn effective ways to deal with conflict and turn things in a new direction.

It’s important to recognize that conflict is natural, and differences between people don’t have to be damaging or catastrophic. By adopting a more realistic outlook on conflict management and learning about how to navigate it, you may find that every conflict is a chance for you to grow personally or create a new window of opportunity and innovate.

Conflict itself is not necessarily the enemy, rather, problems happen when negative feelings fester, and you find yourself avoiding it all together or harbouring resentment.

Conflict is almost always driven by emotion, and so resolution absolutely requires understanding the feelings that are running the show.

Here are some questions that can help you reflect on your own style of conflict management:

Do you feel tense at the thought of a difficult conversation?
Is it hard for you to manage your emotions during times of conflict?
Do you find yourself unable to compromise and ready to pounce when you sense a disagreement?
Do you go into tough conversations expecting the worst from others and feeling frustrated before you have gotten started?
Do you find yourself avoiding certain topics or people in hopes that you don’t have to deal with them?
Do you experience regret about things said or unsaid after a difficult conversation?

If your answers to those questions leave you feeling less than satisfied, keep in mind that it is possible to shift your patterns and learn to manage conflict with courage and confidence

Instead of trying to hedge your bets and play it safe or perhaps being on the flip side and losing control as you combatively assert your opinions onto others, you can develop healthier skills to address those issues.

With the right support, a proactive attitude and a little practice, you can learn to resolve conflict effectively.

How Therapy for Conflict Management Can Help

Together, we will explore what is really going on for you emotionally so that we can gain a more concrete understanding of what really matters to you, and perhaps, what doesn’t. Moreover, we’re all inherently different in how we express ourselves and also in how our bodies release stress hormones accounting for the fight-or-flight reactions we experience in times of stress. By learning how to manage your stress, be present, and openly communicate, you can:

Approach conversations with curiosity rather than preconceived assumptions

Identify, understand and develop realistic and clear conflict resolution
Get comfortable with uncomfortable conversations
Gain clarity on what is important to you and how you can go about clearly expressing that
Manage differences through discussion rather than argument or debate