Session Thirteen: Positive Communication

In Session Thirteen, clients learn about four styles of responding to good news. These include active constructive, active destructive, passive constructive, and passive destructive responding. Of these styles, only Active Constructive Responding (ACR)—the central practice covered in this session—predicts relationship satisfaction. Self-disclosure of positive events is critical for secure bonding and for the development of intimacy. The chapter provides a list of readings, videos, and websites that relate to ACR and offers two worksheets to practice the concepts learned in the chapter. The chapter also includes a real-life case study that illustrates ACR. Tips for using ACR are also provided.