Therapy Unzipped

The Four Horsemen


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On this episode, Tom and Brett discuss the Four Horsemen.

🐎 The Four Horsemen: Apocalypse & Relationships
In the Book of Revelation, the Four Horsemen symbolize conquest, war, famine, and death β€” forces that signal collapse.

Relationship researcher John Gottman identified his own Four Horsemen that predict relational breakdown: criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and contempt.

In this episode, we connect the two.

Criticism rides in first β€” subtle but invasive.
Defensiveness escalates into war.
Stonewalling creates emotional famine.
Contempt delivers the final blow β€” relational death.

The good news? Unlike biblical apocalypse, relationship collapse is reversible. When you recognize the riders early, you can choose different responses β€” curiosity over criticism, ownership over defensiveness, engagement over withdrawal, and respect over contempt.

Apocalypse isn’t inevitable. Awareness changes the ending.

Actionable steps: Be Kind and Be Respectful to one another.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

  • http://suggestiblemind.com

  • http://therapyunzipped.com

    Check out these resources as well:

    *Suggestible Mind Podcast

    Books

    *The Impact of Social Media and Technology on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Guide
    https://www.amazon.com/Impact-Social-Technology-Mental-Health/dp/B0C642FV9D/ref=sr_1_3?crid=NL15N5NQ3ORS&keywords=brett+hall+Thomas+metzinger&qid=1694211527&sprefix=brett+hall+thomas+metzinger%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-3

    Movie Snippet: Blazing Saddles

    Track Title: Match Point
    Artist Name(s): Salon Dijon

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    Therapy UnzippedBy Brett Hall and Tom Metzinger