Often, when we hear the word conflict, we think about something bad. What if I told you that conflict doesn’t always have to ring the alarm bells in your mind? Conflict actually could be something that, when approached with curiosity and care, could enhance your relationships.

Conflict is part of our everyday lives. It is and will be inevitable as long as relationships or human interaction exists. You see it is quite natural, if you think about how uniquely we all have been created. And as you know from your experiences, this uniqueness also allows for differences in values and perspectives. 

So maybe we agree that conflict is just that, two people looking at the same thing through different lenses. It is the interaction of opposing perspectives which we developed throughout our lives. We may have learned those via our family traditions, from caregivers or other influential people as we were growing up, or simply we developed them through our own experiences. 

So what can one do, when those opposing viewpoints come to clash?  As hard as it may seem and as challenging as it may be, conflict resolution ‘done the right way’ could provide deeper understanding and opportunities for individual and relational growth. Some of the things that help this positive outcome are self-awareness, compassion and skilled communication. 

So how do we do it? Luckily, at BCC our therapists are trained in guiding you to understand the root causes of your conflict (individual or couple), help you learn how to manage your emotions, foster empathy towards yourself and others, and enhance your communication skills. Through therapy you can learn how to collaborate vs collide, how to explore and embrace common ground and find shared values, goals and better harmony in your relationship(s).

By Bareiter Center Staff