Becoming More Comfortable With Uncomfortable Conversations

The world has become harder to talk about. Yet uncomfortable conversations are not new. Each day brings possibilities ranging from challenging exchanges with colleagues or family members to speaking with neighbors about social and political issues. If we don’t know what to do when encountering differences, uncertainty, and unfamiliarity, we may damage relationships by how we handle, or avoid, difficult conversations.  

Join Kathryn Ford, MD, as she talks about the neuroscience behind our discomforts and how we can learn to navigate the difficulties that are inevitable. In addition to addressing mindfulness, emotional modulation, listening, learning, and curiosity, Dr. Ford will describe simple tools and exercises to help you feel more comfortable with difficult conversations.

Kathryn Ford, MD, is a psychiatrist, couples therapist, and author of The Aperture Effect: A Radically Simple Approach to Finding Joy and Connection in Your Relationship. A graduate of Brown School of Medicine, Dr. Ford completed a psychiatry residency at Stanford University School of Medicine. Her meditation practice and studies at centers like Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and Spirit Rock Meditation Center have developed her understanding of the power of mindfulness for building deeper, more resilient relationships.