Jake Thiessen, PhD

10/31/2025

Couples therapy isn’t just for couples on the brink.
It’s for couples who are stuck in silence, in cycles, and in disconnection.

Relationships don’t have to hit rock bottom before they get better. You just have to decide that something needs to change.

Tiny Shifts start with small, honest steps, like this one.

10/29/2025

Every relationship hits turbulence.
What determines whether a couple makes it through isn’t how perfectly they communicate – it’s how they respond when things get messy.

Can you sit with discomfort without turning away?
Can you absorb tension without lashing out?
Can you stay present even when it’s hard?

Emotional regulation isn’t just an individual skill – it’s a relational one.
And it’s often the difference between growing together or growing apart.

10/28/2025

Humming in the background of every relationship are "shadow truths" that affect even the most mundane interactions.

There's an unacknowledged subtext that underlies most of the conversations couples have. Discovering it can help overcome an impasse.

10/27/2025

It’s one of the hardest questions you’ll ever ask:
Can this relationship be repaired… or is it time to walk away?

There’s no perfect formula.
But there are some clues:

🌀 Are both people willing to do the work?
🌀 Is there emotional safety to speak the truth?
🌀 Is there still a thread of curiosity about each other, and what could be rebuilt?

In Tiny Shifts, I explore how real change happens — not through ultimatums or quick fixes, but through small, intentional moments of honesty, repair, and connection.

Sometimes the shift is staying.
Sometimes it’s letting go.
But either way, the work begins with clarity.

10/24/2025

📚 Reader Review
“The rhythm of the book invites you to try one small adjustment at a time, then notice how those ‘tiny shifts’ compound into meaningful change…”

That’s the heart of Tiny Shifts — not sweeping fixes, but steady, practical movement toward deeper connection.

This reader captured it perfectly:
✅ Hopeful without overpromising
✅ Practical prompts you can actually use
✅ A shared language couples can grow with

Tiny Shifts is available now: https://amzn.to/46T8Fgi

It goes without saying: intimate relationships are complex. Two unique individuals come together in an interactive dance of emotions and behaviors that becomes their signature way of relating. When a relationship challenge arises, improving communication skills and scheduling more date nights...

10/22/2025

We begin with I love you.
We end with I hate you.
And in between?
We forget that relationships are built on emotion — not logic.

“Have I done anything today to hurt your feelings?”
It’s a small question.
But it could change everything.

🎥 From Tiny Shifts — available now. https://amzn.to/46T8Fgi

10/20/2025

The healthiest relationships aren’t about one person always giving in or the other always getting their way. They’re about mutual freedom — the ability for both people to express what they want, need, and feel, without fear.

That kind of balance doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through honest conversations, tiny shifts, and a shared commitment to keep showing up.

📖 From Tiny Shifts by Dr. Jake Thiessen
“In a satisfying long-term relationship, both parties are free to express their wants and needs in an active and ongoing search for balance between them.”

10/17/2025

People ask me: why “tiny shifts”? Because transformation doesn’t have to be dramatic. It has to be intentional. Small doesn’t mean insignificant. It means sustainable.

10/15/2025

We’ve all heard “communication is key.” But let’s be honest, not all communication is created equal.

Talking at someone isn’t the same as talking with them.
Real growth happens in conversation, when both people show up with curiosity, not control.

This is one of the core ideas behind Tiny Shifts because better connection isn’t about saying more. It’s about listening better.

📘 Tiny Shifts is available now.

10/13/2025

Some people think being close means losing yourself.
Others think being independent means doing it alone.
But the healthiest relationships know this secret:

We don’t have to choose between autonomy and intimacy.
We just have to learn how to hold both gently, intentionally, and with care.

📘 Tiny Shifts is available now.

10/10/2025

Big change doesn’t always require a breakthrough moment.
Sometimes it starts with a pause. A softened tone. A question instead of a defense.

That’s the heart of Tiny Shifts — small, intentional choices that ripple into connection.

✨ Available now wherever books are sold. https://amzn.to/46T8Fgi

10/08/2025

Hi, I’m Dr. Jake Thiessen — therapist, mediator, author of Tiny Shifts, and someone who believes in the power of small, meaningful change. Let’s make space for better connection, one shift at a time.