Nichole Folino Coaching

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Nichole Folino Coaching Certified Relationship Coach | Helping you navigate the relationships that matter most with yourself, your partner, family & others.

Supporting those who feel disconnected, overwhelmed, stuck in unhealthy patterns | Host of the “Open Up and Talk” Podcast

10/12/2026

Guilt isn’t always a sign you’ve made the wrong decision. Sometimes it’s what happens when you start changing a familiar pattern.

What’s harder for you: saying no or dealing with the guilt afterward?

10/11/2026

We all have that conversation we’ve been avoiding. The one we’ve rehearsed a hundred times in our heads, worried about how the other person will react, or convinced ourselves it’s easier to just stay quiet.

But difficult conversations don’t have to turn into arguments, defensiveness, or emotional shutdowns.

In this episode of Open Up & Talk, we’re getting practical about how to approach uncomfortable conversations with more confidence and clarity.

10/10/2026

Some of the relationship lessons I talk about now are things I’ve had to learn myself.

And sometimes, unlearn.

Knowing something intellectually and actually practicing it in the relationships that matter to us are two very different things.

I think that’s part of being human.

We’re all still learning how to do relationships a little better.

What’s one relationship belief you’ve had to unlearn?

Healthy relationships still have conflict.I think we sometimes assume that if a relationship is healthy, two people shou...
10/08/2026

Healthy relationships still have conflict.

I think we sometimes assume that if a relationship is healthy, two people should be able to communicate calmly, understand each other and work things out without things getting messy.

But that isn’t really how relationships work.

Relationship research has consistently shown that conflict itself isn’t necessarily the problem. What matters is how we move through it and whether we’re able to repair when things go sideways.

John Gottman’s research with couples has paid particular attention to something called a repair attempt: an effort during or after conflict to reduce tension and reconnect.

A repair can sound like:

“I don’t think I said that very well. Can I try again?”

“I can see why that hurt you.”

“We’re getting really worked up. Can we take a break and come back to this?”

“You’re right. I got defensive.”

Or even:

“I love you. I’m angry right now, but I’m still here.”

Repair doesn’t mean pretending the disagreement didn’t happen.

It doesn’t mean automatically agreeing.

And it definitely doesn’t mean one person always has to be the one who fixes everything.

It means recognizing that the relationship matters more than winning the argument.

Save this one for the next time a difficult conversation doesn't go perfectly.

10/07/2026

Keeping the peace and actually having peace are two very different things.

If keeping the peace requires you to stay quiet, avoid difficult conversations, say yes when you mean no, or constantly put your feelings aside…

That isn’t really peace.

Sometimes healthy relationships require uncomfortable conversations.

Because the goal isn’t to avoid conflict at all costs.

It’s to create relationships where honesty has somewhere safe to go.

Save this if you’re learning the difference.

Which one of these do you think we normalize the most?At one time or another, most people have experienced this. I know ...
10/06/2026

Which one of these do you think we normalize the most?

At one time or another, most people have experienced this. I know for myself looking at this list, I can relate to a few of them that have happened to me in past relationships.

It is easy to get caught up in a relationship because some areas are so great but sometimes we really need to look at what we are giving up for what we have.

10/05/2026

You can be loving, thoughtful and self-aware and still struggle in your relationships.

You can still people-please.
Avoid hard conversations.
Get defensive.
Struggle to say no.
Or lose yourself trying to keep everyone else happy.

Being good at relationships doesn’t mean getting them right all the time.

It means becoming aware of your patterns and learning what to do when they show up.

What relationship pattern are you working on right now?

10/04/2026

Sometimes we'll tolerate something that makes us unhappy for months, even years, just to avoid one uncomfortable conversation.

We say yes when we want to say no.

We stay quiet when something bothers us.

We tell ourselves, “It's fine,” when it really isn't.

And somehow, we choose long-term discomfort just to avoid a few uncomfortable minutes.

What conversation have you been avoiding because you don't want to feel uncomfortable?

🎙️ This week on Open Up & Talk, I'm talking about why we're so afraid of being uncomfortable — and what avoiding it might actually be costing us.

Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

09/27/2026

What happens when you’re no longer sure whether to stay and rebuild your relationship or let it go?

In the final episode of the Parallel Relationship series, we’re talking about relationship clarity and that incredibly complicated space between “I still love this person” and “I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”

We’ll explore the difference between a disconnected season and an ongoing pattern, whether both people are willing to rebuild, what fear can look like when you’re considering leaving, and why clarity doesn’t always mean having an immediate answer.

Sometimes the question isn’t “Should I stay or should I go?”

Sometimes it’s “What do I need to understand before I can make that decision?”

Because you don’t have to rush yourself into certainty but you do deserve the space to be honest about what you’re feeling.

09/25/2026

I miss us is a statement that is more common than you think. When I am sitting with clients who are struggling to determine whether or not the relationship that they are in is something they should continue in or something they should leave, the first thing that’s always addressed with me is how much they miss spending time with their partner and the way they used to be

sometimes your relationship may never make it back to the way it was before and that’s OK. There’s growing that has taken place and you guys are learning and evolving as you grow.

It is also OK to realize that you have outgrown your relationship. And no matter where you are in that stage, honest questions, and deep reflection can help you to determine what is best for you.

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Grimsby, ON

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