Talk to Me Like I'm Someone You Love

This audio summary explores the relationship insights behind psychotherapist Nancy Dreyfus’s “Flash Cards for Real Life,” a set of short, honest phrases designed to help couples navigate conflict, disconnection, vulnerability, and repair. The focus isn’t on winning arguments—it’s on creating moments of understanding when emotions run high and words are hard to find.

Across seven chapters, listeners are guided through practical phrases and the emotional logic behind them: how to slow down an argument, name fear instead of attacking, speak from vulnerability, clarify boundaries, apologize in a way that truly repairs, and bring more safety and presence into intimate connection. The aim is simple and human: to help relationships feel more connected, more respectful, and more loving—one sentence at a time.

• People in romantic relationships who want practical, gentle language for conflict, repair, and reconnection.
• Anyone who struggles to express feelings clearly—especially those who shut down, get defensive, or escalate under stress.
• Listeners who want healthier communication with close family members, including parents, children, or relatives.

Nancy Dreyfus, Psy.D., is a couple psychotherapist who has observed how partners use language—both skillfully and unskillfully—during conflict. Her work emphasizes simple, direct phrases that help people communicate more honestly, reduce defensiveness, and move toward understanding and repair.