We’ve all had that moment.
You walk away from a conversation thinking, How did that blow up so fast? Or worse, That’s not what I meant at all.
In this episode of The Alignment Show, I sit down with Dr. Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva (known simply as Dr. T) to talk about what really happens between intention and perception.
We recorded this conversation some months ago, and while a few references are time-stamped, the insights are anything but. What she shares here is timeless and deeply practical.
Dr. T introduces what she calls the IAP Model — Intention, Action, Perception — a framework that helps explain why so many conflicts aren’t actually about the issue at hand. They’re about the gap between what we intend, what we do, and how it is received.
If you’ve ever said, “You should have known what I meant,” this conversation may change how you approach your next difficult conversation.
We explore:
* Why silence rarely means what we assume it means
* How “you always” and “you never” quietly escalate conflict
* Why actions only “speak louder than words” when intentions are clear
* How to interrupt destructive patterns before they spiral
Dr. T brings both clinical expertise and lived experience. She’s candid about how many of these insights were born inside her own marriage. That honesty makes the conversation feel real rather than theoretical.
This one isn’t abstract. It’s actionable.
About Dr. T
Dr. Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva is a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Advocate2Create. In her book Why Are We Fighting?, she introduces the IAP Model—Intention, Action, Perception—which she describes as a kind of “Google Translate” for human communication.
With more than 12 years of experience, she specializes in grief, trauma, and couples therapy. She also conducts clinical evaluations for immigration cases, combining her mental health expertise with her background in immigration law.
Resources Mentioned
* Why Are We Fighting? by Dr. Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva
* Advocate2Create, a website dedicated to Dr. T’s insights.
* Rule of Three Interpretations training
* The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman
* Relationship Revival podcast
* Work with Donn to publish your book
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