“Can We Talk?”: Attachment & Communication with Dragan Wright

Mates and Dates

Hey everyone! If there’s one key takeaway from this episode, it’s that communication is a skill that requires consistent work and refinement! Today We chatted about Attachment Theory- if you are curious about your own attachment style, we have provided a link to an online quiz in the shownotes. Also, If you’d like to try out some of the communication approaches we discussed in your own relationships, Dragan recommends looking into the ‘Imago dialogue’’. This is a communication strategy which assigns each person either the role of ‘sender’ or ‘receiver’. The parties take turns to follow the three steps of mirroring, validating and empathising. We have linked a step-by-step guide to the Imago dialogue in the show notes so you can test it out in your own relationships. Finally, you’ll also find a Youtube video on Polyvgal Theory if you want to gain a deeper understanding of the way that trauma shapes our physiological responses.

Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-SVdQ-CHkA (Polyvagal Theory Video)
• http://www.integralpsychology.org/uploads/1/5/3/0/15300482/the_imago_dialogue_101.pdf (The Imago Dialogue)
• https://quiz.attachmentproject.com (Attachment Theory Quiz)
• https://www.amazon.com/Attached-Science-Adult-Attachment-YouFind/dp/1585429139 (Attached Book)

This episode of mates and dates was hosted by Edward Giles and Genevieve Triemstra.

Producers are Sarah Siu and Dona Sirimanne

Executive producer is Stephanie Aceglav

Additional Production and mixing by me, Nina Longfellow

Special thanks to Natalie Patterson, Lily Giles and Dragun Zan Wright

Check out the Mates & Dates journey:

Instagram: @matesanddates

About Mates & Dates

Mates & Dates is a six-episode podcast series uniquely produced, hosted and informed by young people, for young people, to ignite conversations around all aspects of relationships in a relatable way. It's an initiative of a collaborative group of Northern Sydney organisations, comprising representatives from:

• Ku-ring-gai Council

• Lower North Shore Domestic Violence Network

• North Sydney Council

• Northern Sydney Local Health District

• Willoughby City Council