• Home
  • Common Issues
    • Mood
      • Depression
      • Anxiety
      • Panic
      • Social Anxiety
    • Relationships
      • Couples Counseling
      • Physical Intimacy Issues
      • Finding the Right Relationship
      • Family Issues
    • Coaching
      • Career
      • Life Coaching
      • Weight Management & Fitness Coaching
    • Other
      • Medicare and Senior Issues
      • Child and Adolescent
      • Chronic Pain and Medical Issues
  • About Therapy
    • Session Formats
      • Individuals
      • Couples
      • Kids and Teens
      • Families
    • Therapy Styles
      • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • Family Systems (Psychodynamic)
      • Meditation and Mindfulness Training
    • FAQs
      • What is the difference between a psychologist and a counselor?
      • What is your confidentiality policy?
      • Does therapy really work?
      • How long will I need to be in therapy?
      • How often should I come?
      • How can I measure my progress in therapy?
      • What if I don’t share the same belief system or life circumstances as my therapist?
      • Can I use my insurance?
  • Checklists
    • Adult ADHD Self-Evaluation
    • Anxiety Self-Evaluation
    • Bipolarism Self-Evaluation
    • Depression Self-Evaluation
    • Panic Attack Self-Evaluation
    • Relationship Health Self-Evaluation
    • Social Anxiety Self-Evaluation
    • Sexual Dysfunction Self-Evaluation
  • About Us
    • Our Counselors
      • Breanna Katz-Estrada, MSW, LCSW
      • Diane Williams, MSW, LCSW
      • Heather Robbins, Ph.D., LP
      • James Robbins, M.A., LPC
      • Jon Johnston, MA, LPC
      • Jose Hernandez, LCSW
      • Marilyn Powell, Ph.D.
      • Zayle Griffin, LPC
    • Appointment Information
    • Accepted Insurance Companies
    • Client Reviews
    • Our Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Social & Contact
    ‪(972) 755-0996

Dallas Whole Life Counseling

Licensed Psychologist and Therapists in Texas

Top 10 psychologists in Dallas, TX 2016 Top Counseling & Mental Health in Dallas

Schedule a Consult

Who Wins the Power Struggle?

Power Struggle | Dallas Whole Life Counseling

May 17, 2017 by James Robbins, M.A., LPC

Most close relationships are sabotaged to one degree or another by power struggles. This is especially true when it comes to family and romantic partners.

A power struggle is focused on winning–even when “winning” requires self-defeating behaviors. You prefer Tex-Mex food, your partner prefers Italian. But the two of you rarely go out for Tex-Mex, because your partner really dislikes Tex-Mex. This is his way of exerting power. You try and you try, but still you can’t convert him to Tex-Mex. So instead, you say “Never mind, let’s just quit going out to eat altogether.” This is your way of exerting power.

Both parties–and this is usually unconscious–struggle to get their way, and both parties ultimately fail. Neither of you ends up eating Tex-Mex or Italian food. Such is always the result of power struggles. Since one person winning requires another person losing, a constant struggle for “fairness” easily results in emotional disconnection and chronic resentment.

Are you aware of the ways in which you try to gain power in your closest relationships? Are you aware of ways in which you tend to lose power in your closest relationships? You can’t really answer either of these questions honestly until you’ve answered both of these questions honestly.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Education, Inspiration, Newsletter, Relationship Tagged With: James Robbins, power, power struggle, relationship, resentment

About James Robbins, M.A., LPC

James Robbins is a licensed professional counselor, published author and co-owner of Dallas Whole Life Counseling. He has over 15 years of experience helping people in various life stages that come from a wide variety of cultural, economic and family backgrounds. Learn more about his background by clicking here.

Search the Site

Quick Links

  • Accepted Insurances
  • Appointment Information
  • Contact Us
  • Session Rates
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Meet Our Staff

Recent Articles

  • Discover the Benefits of Counseling with Dallas Whole Life
  • Understanding Ghosting: Exploring the Impact and Coping Strategies
  • Changing Attitudes: Recent Trends in Divorce, Living Together, and Couples

Contact Information

Offering Virtual Sessions
Licensed phone and video sessions are available throughout Texas by appointment.

Office Phone & Email
‪(972) 755-0996‬
contact@dallaswholelife.com

Office Hours
Mondays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Tuesdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Wednesdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Thursdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Fridays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST

Mailing Address
Dallas Galleria Tower One
13355 Noel Road, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75240

Contact

Phone: (972) 755-0996
Email: contact@dallaswholelife.com

Office Hours

Mondays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Tuesdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Wednesdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Thursdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST
Fridays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM CST

Mailing Address

Dallas Whole Life Counseling
13355 Noel Road, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75240

Virtual Counseling

Dallas Whole Life Counseling offers licensed phone and video sessions are available throughout Texas by appointment including nights and weekends for common issues.

Common Issues

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Couples Counseling
  • Physical Intimacy Issues
  • Panic
  • Senior Issues
  • Child & Adolescent
  • Career Coaching
  • Life Coaching
  • Social Anxiety
  • EMDR
  • Family Issues
  • Grief Counseling
  • Weight & Fitness
  • Eating Disorders
  • Chronic Pain
  • Medical Issues

Follow Us

Request an Appointment

Each inquiry is carefully reviewed by our office team to match you with the right counselor for your unique situation. Our office team aims to respond to your inquiry quickly. Current office hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST, Monday thru Friday. Please allow for additional time to respond to inquiries outside of these times. We are not offering in-person counseling at this time but are accepting new patients for phone or video counseling. We ask that current clients with immediate needs please call us at ‪(972) 755-0996.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Dallas Whole Life Counseling | 13355 Noel Road, Suite 1100 | Dallas, Texas 75240 | (972) 755-0996Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved. Website by ThinkGenetic, Inc..