Blog for
Chris Lauzon - Therapist, LICSW

There’s a quiet moment most of us recognize—though we don’t always name it. It’s the pause after something small stings. A comment, a tone, a forgotten gesture. In that moment, we have a choice: speak, or store. Too often, we store it, and that’s where the snowball begins.

When we think about a healthy relationship, many of us picture closeness: shared time, shared experiences, shared goals. Partnership certainly includes those things, yet one of the most important ingredients of a truly healthy relationship is something that may seem counterintuitive at first; individual growth.

When we think about conflict in relationships, we often imagine explosive arguments or long-standing feuds. But what can be just as damaging (though far more subtle) is conflict avoidance. That creeping tension that builds up when couples sidestep tough conversations, suppress small annoyances, or habitually say “I don’t care” to avoid disagreement. Over time, this kind of emotional evasion can erode connection, breed resentment, and spark fights over seemingly trivial things