Andrea and Ron were enjoying their long weekend at the beach when Andrea was feeling adventurous. Despite it being dark out, Andrea said, “Let’s go...
Author archive for: drrein
What’s Wrong? Nothing.
Debbie is pretty intuitive and was sensing something was bothering Chris. When she asked, “What’s wrong?”, he said, “Nothing.” She asked again and his response...
Past Issues
Couples unconsciously bring their past issues to couples counseling, whether it’s childhood issues or issues with past spouses, but couples don’t often talk explicitly about...
Damaged trust
Marc and Laurie came to couples counseling in crisis. Marc uncovered that Laurie was having an affair that spanned many years and he was furious....
Lost and found
Amy and Julian were married for over three decades. They were quite disconnected and questioned whether to continue the marriage. The kids were adults now,...
Erosion and Explosions
Some couples gradually lose their connection with each other—erosion. This tends to happen with more established couples when the stresses of life, e.g., work or...
Different Thoughts
Meg has a creative mind. It moves from one thought to another, but doesn’t always connect the dots. She sees things holistically, but may miss...
Under the Influence
When a couple has a partner who struggles with alcohol use, many spouses tend to attack the struggling partner. When the struggling spouse feels attacked,...
Culture Wars
When working with couples from different cultures, it is important to be sensitive to their cultural expectations of a relationship, but also help them to...
Confronting Faults
Sharon and Bob were feeling distressed about moving. When Sharon vented her stress, Bob thought her irritation was being directed toward him. Bob turned toward...