Connection happens when both of you are able to receive what the other is actually saying or experiencing in the present moment. When are we projecting versus connecting with our partners? When you and your partner argue, do you find yourselves fighting over who is right and who is [...]
While it may seem that your ambivalence is about your partner’s qualities or behaviors, it is ultimately about you. It is painful to wrestle with the ambivalence of being caught between the “yes” and the “no.” In some moments, the answer feels so clear; you cannot live without your [...]
Ideally, a good, productive argument leaves both parties feeling more understood and closer. If you’re in a relationship and you have a pulse, you’re going to have disagreements with your partner. It’s inevitable. And, in my opinion, it is perfectly healthy to disagree, and even argue, with your partner [...]
This is the perfect time to work on being your best self in your relationship. Are you and your partner experiencing fertility issues? You’re not alone. Nearly one in six U.S. couples has trouble conceiving. As a marriage counselor, I often work with people struggling with fertility and, unfortunately, [...]
Open relationships can yield opportunities to expand your sexuality, exercise freedom, and jump out of comfort zones. People often approach relationships like fad diets: they want to sign up and reap the rewards, but underestimate the work that it entails. It’s not an easy road, and there are no [...]
Our emotions are a result of our interpretations of a situation, not the situation itself. Jack and Betty come to their second couples counseling session obviously tense. "So what happened?" I ask. Jack sighs and Betty says, "You were so mean to me last night! You were angry and [...]
An emotional affair, even without sex, can be just as detrimental to your relationship’s safety and future. The foundation of a successful partnership is trust—and a betrayal of that trust can derail even the closest relationship. While such betrayals often come in the form of physical affairs, an emotional [...]
Emotions that function to defend or fight against a perceived threat sabotage productive communication. So, who's to really blame when you fight? Ever had the experience of being in the middle of a fight with your partner, hearing the strong words coming out of your mouth, and suddenly not [...]
The more we accept this process as natural and healing, the more we embellish our beings. For some couples, “menstruation time” can be a real challenge. Symptoms such as severe cramping, throbbing headaches, bloating, distressing mood swings, or heightened sensitivity to environment and people can all occur. A little [...]
Make your relationship more important than the issue. What’s the most common reason partners struggle in their relationship? If you’re like most couples, it’s the lack of communication skills. Whether you’re arguing over chores or fighting about finances, the ways you and your partner talk (and listen) to each [...]
Improving your sex life means focusing on more than just the physical. Has your sex life dwindled from a hot, steamy affair to a lukewarm, occasional romp in the bedroom? You’re not alone; many couples worry that their relationship is losing its original flair when the physical fun begins [...]
Many couples believe their arguments never get resolved because one partner seems to find the confrontation easy while the other wants to avoid it. “We just can’t communicate!” is a frequent statement we hear from couples in counseling. This communication pattern is very common. It usually looks something like this: [...]