Conscious Communication

Family Dynamics

What to Say to Your Child When They Graduate From College

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on April 21, 2025

Graduation is a big milestone for students and their families. The right personalized message from parents can leave a lasting, positive impact.

Graduation is a big milestone for students and their families. The right personalized message from parents can leave a lasting, positive impact.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

How COVID-19 Changed Communication for Strained Families

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on March 11, 2022

Wondering how the pandemic changed communication for strained family relationships? New research reveals how marginalized members perceived changes in their family communication.

Wondering how the pandemic changed communication for strained family relationships? New research reveals how marginalized members perceived changes in their family communication.

Loneliness

How to Cope With Another Socially Isolated Winter

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on October 22, 2021

Heading into another socially isolated winter? These research-based coping strategies work.

Heading into another socially isolated winter? These research-based coping strategies work.

Family Dynamics

Can a Close Sibling Relationship Strain Other Sibling Bonds?

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on June 30, 2020

How supportive are your sibling relationships? New research suggests that strong bonds between two siblings could mean trouble for other siblings in the family.

How supportive are your sibling relationships? New research suggests that strong bonds between two siblings could mean trouble for other siblings in the family.

Friends

Navigating Social Interaction in a World With COVID-19

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on June 30, 2020

Unsure how to ask a friend if they are willing to see you as coronaviruses cases continue to rise? Research on friendship helps explain why these conversations are difficult.

Unsure how to ask a friend if they are willing to see you as coronaviruses cases continue to rise? Research on friendship helps explain why these conversations are difficult.

Gender

When Women Feel Disrespected at Work

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on June 29, 2020

New research reveals six ways women in male-dominated workplaces are disrespected at work, and what women do about it.

New research reveals six ways women in male-dominated workplaces are disrespected at work, and what women do about it.

Relationships

How to Protect and Repair Family Relationships

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on March 30, 2020

Family members inevitably hurt one another. Here are research-based tips for repairing relationships and protecting them from eventual harm.

Family members inevitably hurt one another. Here are research-based tips for repairing relationships and protecting them from eventual harm.

Forgiveness

Staying Home? How to Survive Spending 24/7 With Your Partner

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on March 19, 2020

Staying home to fight the spread of COVID-19? Worried about spending 24/7 with your spouse? Here's how to be a good partner (and co-worker) while navigating your new life at home.

Staying home to fight the spread of COVID-19? Worried about spending 24/7 with your spouse? Here's how to be a good partner (and co-worker) while navigating your new life at home.

Relationships

Maintaining Relationships While Practicing Social Distancing

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on March 13, 2020

Research on long-distance relationships provides many ideas for connecting in isolation.

Research on long-distance relationships provides many ideas for connecting in isolation.

Relationships

The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Conversations 

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on December 14, 2019

Are holidays with family more stress than they are worth? These research-based tips will help get your holiday conversations started and keep them civil.

Are holidays with family more stress than they are worth? These research-based tips will help get your holiday conversations started and keep them civil.

Relationships

Be an Ally to Your Family’s "Black Sheep" During the Holidays

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on December 6, 2019

Five research-based strategies for helping marginalized members of your family feel included.

Five research-based strategies for helping marginalized members of your family feel included.

Sleep

How to Talk Family into Embracing Change

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on November 7, 2019

Communication techniques for easing into change with your family, using eco-friendly holiday changes as an example.

Communication techniques for easing into change with your family, using eco-friendly holiday changes as an example.

Relationships

Send a Care Package to Invest in a Relationship

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on September 30, 2019

Care packages are a great way to maintain relationships with friends and family members who live far away. Communication theory explains why.

Care packages are a great way to maintain relationships with friends and family members who live far away. Communication theory explains why.

Health

Why You Need to Say "I'm Here for You No Matter What"

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on September 29, 2019

Stop what you’re doing right now and tell your loved ones you are there for them! Knowing they have support if needed may benefit their mental and physical health.

Stop what you’re doing right now and tell your loved ones you are there for them! Knowing they have support if needed may benefit their mental and physical health.

Stress

4 Ways to Help Your Partner Cope with Stress

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on August 17, 2019

Do you want to help your partner cope better with stress in their lives? Learn how to engage in dyadic coping to improve your relationship and lower stress.

Do you want to help your partner cope better with stress in their lives? Learn how to engage in dyadic coping to improve your relationship and lower stress.

Career

Coping with Work Stress

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on June 18, 2019

Are you coping effectively with stress at work? New research suggests the most beneficial strategies for increasing work performance and well-being.

Are you coping effectively with stress at work? New research suggests the most beneficial strategies for increasing work performance and well-being.

Anger

Why We Hate People Telling Us What to Do

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on June 6, 2019

Do you feel an urge to rebel in response to others telling you what to do? Here’s why.

Do you feel an urge to rebel in response to others telling you what to do? Here’s why.

Emotional Intelligence

Talking to Difficult People

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on April 23, 2019

You can use patience, perspective taking, and emotional intelligence to talk to “difficult” people in your life at work or at home.

You can use patience, perspective taking, and emotional intelligence to talk to “difficult” people in your life at work or at home.

Diet

Family Conversations About Food

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on March 30, 2019

Research reveals the four family types and explains how families talk about food, and how those conversations shape what we eat today.

Research reveals the four family types and explains how families talk about food, and how those conversations shape what we eat today.

Anger

Communicative Aggression

Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Ph.D. on March 27, 2019

Have your partner's hurtful words gone too far? Research on communicative aggression warns of the consequences of hurtful communication patterns.

Have your partner's hurtful words gone too far? Research on communicative aggression warns of the consequences of hurtful communication patterns.