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Communication skillsIntimacy

A Sex Therapist Explains Why Your Sex Life Feels So Different Now

This is part one of a two-part interview. Sex and intimacy questions rarely feel simple to ask out loud, so Connect Couples's Mercy Clark sat down with Brittany Bolden, LMFT, LCAS — a Connect Couples therapist and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology — and... Read more
Communication skillsParentingReconnectionThe Gottman Method

We Raised Them. Now What About Us? A Conversation Guide for Empty Nest Couples

Related: Empty Nester 101: Your Kids Have Launched, Now What? | How Do You Respond to Your Partner's Bid for Connection? For years, decades even, so much of your life together revolved around raising children. There were school drop-offs, practices, homework, birthday parties, doctor's appointments, family dinners, vacations, the “teenage years,”... Read more
Communication skillsCouples therapy guideReconnection

The “Now What About Us?” Couples Worksheet

For years, so much of your shared life may have centered around raising your children. As they become more independent, this is an opportunity to look back at the family you built, notice how each of you has changed, and get curious about what you want this next chapter to... Read more
Communication skillsConflict and repairPersonal growth

“Do I Need Your Permission?” Understanding Permission vs. Consideration in Relationships

“Do I really need to ask my partner before I do this?” It’s a question that comes up often in relationships, whether it’s making plans with friends, spending money, going out of town, accepting a new job opportunity, or simply deciding how to spend a Saturday afternoon. Couples can find themselves... Read more
ParentingReconnectionThe Gottman Method

Rituals of Connection: Small, Easy Ways New Parents Stay Close

Sleep deprivation. Cluster feeding. Blowouts and teething, sometimes all in the same afternoon. Whether you're expecting or you've recently grown your family, the transition to parenthood, or to a second or third child, can leave partners wondering if the spark in their marriage is still there. The Gottman Institute found... Read more
Communication skillsPersonal growthReconnectionThe Gottman Method

Career Corner: When ‘Busy’ Becomes the New Normal for Dual-Career Couples

Two demanding careers can create an incredibly fulfilling life for both partners, one built on purpose, ambition, and shared goals. But busy careers can also erode the very relationship they're meant to support. When work requires long hours and constant emotional and mental energy, couples can become experts at managing... Read more
Communication skillsConflict and repairPersonal growth

I Love You but I Don’t Like Your Family: Is It a Values Clash or a Personality Conflict?

Whether it's birthday parties, holidays, or family dinners, if your partner is close with their family, you're probably seeing your in-laws several times a year. If you like your in-laws, those get-togethers feel easy. If you don't, those gatherings can feel uncomfortable and even packed with dread. You don’t want... Read more
Communication skillsConflict and repairCouples therapy guideInfidelityTrauma and healing

What to Expect in a Disclosure Session and How Both Partners Should Prepare

When infidelity is discovered, the relationship often enters a crisis state immediately. Maybe your partner found out before you were ready to tell them. Maybe you admitted it because the truth was already in their eyes. Or maybe you denied it at first — panicked, ashamed, overwhelmed, or unable to believe... Read more
Communication skillsCouples therapy guideIntimacyPersonal growthReconnectionThe Gottman MethodWellness

When Bodies Change: How Couples Can Talk About Attraction, Health, and Acceptance With Care

For many couples, conversations about body changes are some of the hardest conversations to have — not because couples are superficial or unloving, but because these topics touch deeply vulnerable places in all of us. You may be thinking to yourself: “I don’t even know how to say this out... Read more
AttachmentCommunication skillsConflict and repairReconnection

How to Build a Secure Attachment Loop with your Partner (step-by-step)

Have you ever walked away from a conversation with your partner feeling completely misunderstood, even though you were trying so hard to explain yourself? Maybe the conversation started small. One person felt hurt, disappointed, lonely, or overwhelmed. But within minutes, it turned into a mess of defensiveness, criticism, shutting down —... Read more