About Dr. Dawson

What I Learned From My Parents

When I looked back at my history, I realized I didn’t have a clue about human relationships. Through my parents’ arguments and eventual divorce, I learned very early that marriages don’t necessarily last forever.

My parents’ relationship spurred my curiosity in terms of what my marriage might look like for me. Since childhood, I have wondered why people treat each other destructively, even after a long time together, and how they might be able to recover the happy partnerships for which they yearned.

My Marriage

As I look back on my own 16-year marriage, I have continued to hunt for what makes healthy relationships work. I have to wonder how we made it through all the twists, turns, frustrations, and conflict. In the beginning, we argued about finances, career choices, parenting issues, household chores, infertility, and sex.

Almost as soon as our conflicts began, we went to a marriage counselor. Immediately, we started communicating better. We spent more time together just talking, listened more to each other, and we informed each other when we needed some time to ourselves. As a result, we are now more able to adapt to each other’s needs. Now, each of us feels more respected and loved.

My Approach

Having lived through tough times with my parents and in my own marriage, I can relate well to couples experiencing difficulties. I have built a stockpile of strategies that couples can use to increase the trust and love in their relationships.

One of these is a lesson learned over the two decades I spent getting educated in psychology. That is: Individuals have basic needs that simply cannot be met by only one other person. The brain, the heart, the soul, and the mind, are just too complicated and individuals are too different.

But the basic needs for all of us are essentially the same: good food, deep sleep, intimate sex, safe shelter, companionship, love, and happiness within ourselves. In successful marriages, spouses have learned to respect and balance these needs.

While teaching in a community of First Nations people, I also learned of the medicine wheel, which likewise promotes a healthy balance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.

Balancing time together with self-time is an indispensable principle for understanding and improving relationships. If your relationship is out of balance, and you’re tired of wasting time arguing or distancing from each other, call 250-899-1794 for a free consultation or click here to schedule an appointment today.

My Credentials

I hold a Doctorate of Philosophy in Psychology, from the University of Waterloo, where I studied the impact of hormones on sleep. I also hold a Certificate in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California. I am a Registered Psychologist with a fascination and passion for working with couples.

Call me at 250-899-1794 for a free consultation or email
kadawson@dawsonpsychologicalservices.com to schedule an appointment today.

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Serving the Kelowna area