Ep 27 Partnership Communication 101

Honest Mamas Podcast

Welcome to episode twenty-seven of the Honest Mamas Podcast! Today, we speak to Avi Klein, LSCW, about the emotional states he regularly sees in couples expecting a baby, how he gets couples to connect through this difficult period, and how to improve intimacy after having a child.

Avi is a psychotherapist, father of two, and lifelong New Yorker practicing in Union Square. He has been working with men, women and couples since 2009 after graduating from the Columbia University School of Social Work. Ten years ago, he began working with homeless families in San Francisco and realized how powerful it was to work on behalf of people—hearing their stories, witnessing their resilience, and participating in their growth and healing. He became a psychotherapist after experiencing firsthand the power of a strong therapeutic relationship. As his practice developed, he came to recognize how fundamental relationships are to the way people make sense of their world and has focused on helping people nourish themselves and their relationships.

While studying at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, Avi also worked in outpatient mental health clinics in Chelsea and Upper Manhattan. Prior to starting his own practice, Avi helped run one of the first programs dedicated to working specifically with young adults with severe mental illnesses—St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital. While there, he also co-lead a yoga and meditation group and began to appreciate the importance of working with both mind and body as a psychotherapist. Avi is trained in AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) and EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), two forms of therapy that emphasize the power of emotion, healing & transformation in relationships. His work also borrows from narrative therapy, mindfulness and body-oriented therapies. He has a special interest in supporting new families and is currently working on a workshop to support new and expectant parents as well as other educational programs for adults to support emotional well-being.

What you’ll hear in this episode

• The emotional states Avi regularly sees from couples expecting a baby
• How Avi gets couples to connect through this difficult period
• The ways in which Avi helps couples to show up authentically to each other
• The need for vulnerability to help with communication
• How to clear some of the issues that have arisen in the past
• The need to have repair between a couple
• Navigating arguments and not letting them get nasty
• How to improve intimacy after having a child
• Learning to be grateful and thankful to each other

Resources

https://www.aviklein.com

https://www.instagram.com/thecompassproject