When Your Partner Won’t Engage (Part 1): Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection (Episode #70)

When Your Partner Won’t Engage (Part 1):

Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection

In Part 1 of this two-part series on The Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis dive into one of the most common yet painful relationship challenges: emotional disengagement. Whether it's a partner who won’t talk, shuts down, or avoids hard conversations, this episode unpacks the underlying reasons—like past criticism, emotional wounding, and lack of safety—and offers a compassionate and practical path forward.

Drawing from Dr. Sue Johnson’s work on attachment patterns, John Gottman’s research on emotional flooding, and the Zeigarnik effect, this episode helps listeners recognize the “dance” of disconnection and how to begin stepping out of it. You'll learn why defensiveness and shame can derail conversations, why some questions get asked again and again, and how slowing down and checking in with yourself can begin to change the entire communication dynamic.

This foundational conversation sets the stage for Part 2, where Dr. Skinner and MaryAnn will explore what to do after a timeout—how to mentally and emotionally prepare to re-enter a difficult conversation with clarity, empathy, and effectiveness.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Emotional disengagement and communication breakdown

• Why safety is essential for vulnerability

• Attachment cycles and the “emotional dance” (Sue Johnson)

• The Zeigarnik effect and why unresolved issues stay active

• Defensiveness, shame spirals, and emotional flooding (John Gottman)

• The role of belief systems (“You don’t listen to me,” “I don’t matter”)

• The importance of timing, tone, and non-reactivity

Suggested Resources Mentioned:

1. Free Mini-Course: Seven Essential Skills for Healthy Communication – humanintimacy.com – Tools for reflective listening, validating emotions, and clear expression.

2. Mini-Course: How to Communicate When You Don’t Know What to Say – Practical guidance for emotionally charged conversations.

3. YouTube Channel: – Dr. Kevin Skinner on YouTube – Watch, comment, and engage with this and future episodes.

4. Email Questions: – Reach out with thoughts or questions: [e-mail]

Researchers & Models Referenced:

• Dr. Sue Johnson (Emotionally Focused Therapy)

• Dr. John Gottman (Emotional flooding and timeouts)

• Zeigarnik Effect (Unfinished emotional business)

Next Episode (Part 2) Preview: Title: When Your Partner Won’t Engage (Part 2): How to Reconnect After Taking a Timeout In the follow-up episode, Dr. Skinner and MaryAnn continue the conversation by exploring how to effectively return to a difficult discussion after stepping away. You’ll learn what to do during a timeout, how to calm your nervous system, and how to re-enter with empathy, clarity, and emotional regulation.

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