Relationships

My husband and I will have been married 24 years in July. We started dating (on and off) since we were 17. We have two wonderful teenagers and we own a new business together. Our lives are full of many wonderful things, but at this time they are also filled…

Communication is an important part of all relationships. To build a strong relationship you must learn how to communicate effectively with your partner. Sometimes that communication includes arguing. Let’s imagine a scenario. It’s been a long day and you’re finally home and seated on the couch with your partner, in…

We need to talk. Few words strike fear in the heart more than these four little words. What follows these words is rarely positive. If you have recently experienced a breakup, they may be all too familiar. Oftentimes in relationships, both members are experiencing turmoil, but when the final breakup…

Service dogs are most commonly thought of as helping the physically impaired. However, as mental health becomes a more acceptable topic, psychiatric service dogs are starting to make a public appearance. Psychiatric service dogs help people cope with a mental disorder and improve their quality of life with specifically trained…

When we think about the holidays, most of us look forward to experiencing a time of fun, family, and repeating traditions we hold dear. Unfortunately, this can also be a challenging time for those that have experienced a divorce. Whether the divorce happened in the last few months, or many…

Counseling tips for Setting Healthy Personal Boundaries with Others.

Let’s Talk About Love With the emergence of adolescence comes the emergence of intimate relationships. Intimacy can be a scary word for parents because our mind goes right to physical intimacy, and who wants to think of their child in a relationship like that? Intimacy, however, is also a feeling…

Marriage Is in Decline, but Why? New census data has revealed that the percentage of American adults who have never been married is higher than ever. In 2012, one out of every five adults older than 25 claimed to never being married. In 1960, the rate was half–only about one…

Is it Time to End Your Love Affair with Drama and Chaos? Wouldn’t it be great if we could apply the same advice and insight to ourselves that seems to come all to easily when dissecting the lives and decisions of those closest to us. As with most things emotional…

If you find yourself in escalating conflicts with your spouse, the cause may surprise you. Often we see a cause and effect relationship between our spouse’s behavior and our reaction. But the cause of your distress may actually have more to do with your perception, specifically, your perception that your…

What happened to the “lifetime commitment” aspect of marriage in the U.S.? Divorce is almost as prevalent as marriage. Not really, but compared to 50-100 years ago, the number of divorces has increased exponentially. That’s an exaggeration too, but the increase in these numbers has been a source of dialogue…

Conflict does not have to create distance between you and your spouse. In fact, conflict can be the very thing that creates moments of connection and intimacy if it’s done right. Communicating about your disagreements, hurts, needs, and desires is a natural part of any relationship. But how you do…