“I did.” or “I didn’t.” are often examples of defensiveness. If a partner says you did not do something and the response is “I did.”,...
11.102017April 25, 2018
Deliberate Practice
In my couples counseling practice, couples spend almost the entire session talking directly to each other, typically discussing the most difficult issues in their relationship....
04.102017April 25, 2018
Crisis
Infidelity is sometimes the crisis that brings couples to counseling, but ultimately couples are working on their relationship in couples counseling. These couples often work...
18.052017January 17, 2017
Fried Dough
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Excuses, Judgement
Diane asked Tom about his time with the kids at the Marshfield Fair and he mentioned that they got fried dough. Diane loved fried dough...
11.052017January 17, 2017
There’s Still Hope
One of the sadder situations as a couples therapist is when couples get to couples counseling too late. It only takes one individual—who has lost...
04.052017September 19, 2024
Well, Maybe Not Every Relationship-Serial Infidelity
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Affairs, Conflict, Disconnected, Infidelity
Helping couples recover from physical or emotional affairs is unfortunately standard work in couples counseling. Most affairs occur when couples disconnect due to conflict and...
27.042017January 17, 2017
Well, Maybe Not Every Relationship-Addiction
Active alcohol and drug addiction also makes it unlikely to have a successful relationship. The relationship is often reactive to the presence of the addiction....
20.042017September 19, 2024
Well, Maybe Not Every Relationship-Physical Aggressiveness
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Battering, Escalation, Infidelity, Intimidation, Physical Aggressiveness
Couples deserve to succeed, but there are certain types of relationships that are unlikely to be successful. These relationships involve: battering, active alcohol or drug...
13.042017April 13, 2017
My Loneliest Moment…
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Conflict, Despair, Withdrawal
“My loneliest moment is lying next to you” is an actual quote. It’s painful to hear the level of despair this woman feels for her husband....
06.042017January 17, 2017
You Keep Saying It
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Defensiveness, Looping
Looping is when a couple’s conversation goes in circles. It’s when a couple keeps repeating what they are saying over and over again. It typically...