Most of us hear about how traumatic experiences leave a lasting impact on soldiers, first responders and victims of crime. But even events that aren’t life-threatening can result in stress that wreaks havoc on intimate relationships. Sadly, even fairly commonplace occurrences can create trauma — for example, babies whose parents rarely respond to their cries. […]
Couples and Depression
June 18, 2021 – 1:50 pm
Depression is an alarmingly common psychological disorder that affects approximately one in 15 adults in the U.S. annually, with one in six suffering from it during their lifetime. Statistically, women report this condition more often with an average age of onset in the late teens to mid-twenties. The global pandemic is making matters worse with […]
Alcohol Abuse in Relationships: A Cocktail for Conflict
May 19, 2021 – 7:13 pm
Many couples commemorate birthdays, celebrate the completion of a big home project or admire a beautiful sunset on vacation with a beer or merlot in hand. Alcohol can be part of shared recreational activities, too, such as visiting a craft brewery or sampling wines. Almost every recreational venue serves alcohol, and it’s often a rite […]
Feeling Angry? That’s Not Necessarily a Bad Thing
April 26, 2021 – 7:12 pm
When I sit with an arguing couple in a session, I often feel hopeful. Here’s why: Anger is an emotion that often says, “I care,” and, “This is important to me.” The opposite of love isn’t anger; it’s indifference. If we don’t care, we don’t get angry. We just get quiet and withdraw. As long […]
A Therapist’s Advice on Choosing a Therapist
March 24, 2021 – 5:07 pm
Reaching out for help on mental health challenges can be difficult. You may feel embarrassed or confused. You could be dealing with a new stressful situation in your life, or be confronted with newfound, fatigue or concentration problems. When this happens, starting the search for a counselor might seem overwhelming. But making the effort to […]
Grounding: A Simple Technique to Help Manage Stress
February 25, 2021 – 7:12 pm
Our species survived by being on “alert” against all manner of dangers: from large animals, from intruders and from nature. Our brains evolved into exquisite predictors of peril that game out things that could go wrong and how to avoid them. That’s one of the reasons we’re at the top of the food chain. Good […]
Valentine’s Day Got You Down? EFT Can Help
January 22, 2021 – 8:51 pm
This can be a tough time for many who struggle in their relationship. Everywhere you turn, there’s heart-shaped candy boxes, teddy bears, red roses and other painful reminders that your relationship just isn’t where you want it to be. As you hear about your friends’ Valentine’s Day plans for romantic getaways, candlelit dinners and the […]
Relationship Renewal
December 30, 2020 – 9:00 am
With the new year comes the time-honored tradition of making resolutions. Some people want to lose weight, some strive to get organized and some decide to quit smoking. But what about your relationship? Can you resolve to improve that too? In many cases, you can — especially when both partners share that same goal. Even […]
3 Gifts That Are Perfect for the Holidays — and Every Day
November 30, 2020 – 8:30 pm
Everyone’s searching for that perfect holiday gift for their partner this time of year. While we can’t help you pick out jewelry, clothing or even a gift card, we’ve got suggestions for three gifts we think your partner will love — and you won’t even have to wrap them. The gift of validation: Even if […]
The Importance of Gratitude in Relationships
October 21, 2020 – 7:15 pm
This time of year, it’s tradition to give thanks. For many, however, recent events make feeling thankful a bit tougher. But just because the world is facing unprecedented challenges, don’t write off the impact that gratitude can still have in your life — and in your relationship. We’re all promised the right to pursue our […]