"Successful long-term relationships are created through small words, small gestures, and small acts." - John Gottman The holidays are nearing, which often means many of us will spend more time with family and friends. For some, it's an exciting season and a time to...
“Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” – Brené Brown I sit in my chair facing Marcy and Lou*, the couple I’ve been seeing for a few months. They came for counseling after Lou...
After spending the last two and a half years in a pandemic, most of us have created new norms for our relationships, families, and lifestyles. When the pandemic began, many people changed their drinking habits. Sometimes this was for the better and sometimes for the...
Alcohol is a touchy subject at the best of times, so it’s natural to feel anxious if you think your partner is drinking too much. Perhaps you’ve noticed they recently started drinking more or realized they always spend their weekends close to a bottle of wine. Habits...
Are you recently engaged or planning on getting married? Or, is your relationship getting serious, and you're starting to talk about getting married? Before you and your partner begin planning the venue, the cake, and the ceremony, it's critical to spend some time...
Couples often enter the therapy room saying, "we just aren't speaking the same language!" Couples who say this phrase often feel their relationship needs are not being met. Or perhaps one doesn't don't feel cared for or understood by their partner. One common reason...
Is your relationship a little stuck in the day-to-day to-dos? Do you find your conversations with your partner only focus on the to-do list? Did you pay the water bill? Can you take the dog to the groomer tomorrow? Does the car need an oil change? Connecting with your...
Every couple has their strengths and struggles. At some point, you might find that you and your partner are running into recurring fights. You may be getting stuck in gridlocked patterns of self-protection, like defensiveness and criticism. At best, it is frustrating....