The Midlife Marriage

How to get your hubs to open up, engage & truly connect.

• Carrie Cohen

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In this episode, I dive into the fascinating world of communication differences between men and women, focusing on how wives can better understand and connect with their husbands. As a psychotherapist with 25 years of experience, I've developed strategies to help even the most disengaged men open up and communicate more effectively.

The Four Key Elements

I break down my approach into four main elements:

  1. Creating a Safe Space: This involves setting the scene, establishing time boundaries, practicing active listening, and maintaining consistency. The goal is to make your husband feel comfortable and secure during these conversations.
  2. Meeting Him Where He Is: Recognizing that men might be at a different developmental stage in terms of communication, I encourage women to take a few steps back and start small. This includes getting a pulse on his current state, building trust gradually, being patient, and acknowledging small progress.
  3. Acknowledging Different Wiring: Understanding that men process emotions differently can help prevent misunderstandings. I explain concepts like the "man's guide to emotion," physiological flooding, and common pitfalls to avoid.
  4. Speaking to Wake Up His Emotions: I provide techniques to engage your husband emotionally, including using invitational language, being aware of his triggers, and modeling vulnerability.

Key Takeaways

  • Communication isn't everything, but it's the vehicle for improving your relationship.
  • Men often don't have the same access to emotions as women due to socialization.
  • Patience, compassion, and understanding are crucial when implementing these strategies.
  • Regular "marriage meetings" can be an effective way to practice these techniques.


If you’re ready to do this kind of work on your marriage

My signature group program, The Marriage Revival Collective is enrolling now.

This is where you’ll get your roadmap & community for transforming your marriage from living like roommates to a lifetime of adventure, genuine friendship and loving like soulmates.

$399/month
4 month commit

We start late July

Get the details here.

https://www.carriecohencoaching.com/mrc

Thank you for listening to The Midlife Marriage!