Welcome to our Blog
Here we post articles and practical exercises for couples who wish to improve their marriage or relationship. Look through the title and beginnings of articles below, and click any title to read them. It’s good to know you’re not alone.
Thanksgiving Challenge That Will Improve Your Relationship
I have a challenge for you…skip your New Year's resolution, because if you accept my challenge, you will already be about 6 weeks into making a huge difference in your life and relationships. Now here is where I should insert something clever or catchy about if you choose to accept this mission, this article will self-destruct in 10 seconds (thank you Mission Impossible) but clever and catchy won’t help you take on the task I am about to suggest. The task may seem simple but like all change, it won’t be easy. It will take effort, but it will [...]
What The 9/11 Survivor Tree Can Teach Us About Healing Relationships?
In early October of 2001, after the world was forever changed by the devastation of September 11th, the last living thing was found under the 3 billion pounds of wreckage of the Twin Towers. A worker noticed a small branch coming up from the ground of rubble, and on this branch were green leaves. That person told other workers, and the excitement spread because after 30 days they had found something alive. In New York, trees don’t normally sprout green leaves in October, so it’s believed that this tree was signaling that it still had life in it. It [...]
Am I in a Relationship with a Narcissist?
Selfies galore and seeking affirmation via social media, it seems the whole world is suffering from narcissistic behavior. However, being self-motivated, self-focused or even putting yourself first doesn’t make you a narcissist. Narcissism is a very particular set of traits that create the definable personality disorder. For people who are in relationships with a narcissist (be it a spouse, parent or even child) life can be incredibly confusing. The narcissistic personality seeks out a particular type of partner (or victim we could say in some cases) with or without cognitive awareness. They are looking for an empathetic personality who [...]
Entitlements in Relationship with Russell Lemle Ph.D. and Robert Solley Ph.D.
Here is what you will learn In this video: What entitlements are. Why they are important and tricky to navigate. How they play out in your relationship. How entitlements can get in the way of connection. How to communicate beyond entitlement and move towards connection. Access the transcript for Entitlements in relationship You can also read Russell Lemle’s article in Psychology Today regarding entitlement, “How Being Entitled to Our Way – Gets in the Way”. If you would like help navigating these issues in yourself or [...]
What this Valentines Day has me thinking about…
If you could have know how to do something better at the beginning of our relationship what would that have been?
Communication: How Style Makes A Huge Difference
There are several different styles of communication, yet some approaches work better with our partner than others. Which of these communication styles do you and your partner get into? Style 1: Partner 1: What shall we do for the holidays? Partner 2 (PASSIVE): I don't know, you decide. In this scenario, partner #2’s body language may be looking down, avoiding eye contact. For the sake of this article, let’s assume that partner #2 is not sincere about saying “I don’t know.” This partner is someone who does have a preference, but is afraid to assert themselves to their partner. [...]
Welcoming LGBTQIA+ Clients in Therapy
The process of finding a therapist is no easy task! This is even more the case when clients belong to minority groups or are different from other people for various reasons. “Different.” That word that distinguishes someone from someone else isn’t always positive. While finding the right therapist is difficult for anyone, it can especially be true for people who identify as LGBTQIA+. Most people are aware that in order to get the most out of therapy it involves being very open, remaining honest, and exploring different aspects of yourself. This can seem an even more daunting task for [...]