Kelly was sharing something personal and Thomas rolled his eyes. Typically Kelly would say something incendiary, Thomas would bark back, then they wouldn’t talk for...
Author archive for: drrein
I Love You!
Bob complained about Judy’s talking to him from another room. Since his hearing was declining as he aged, he needed Judy to talk to him...
I Love You As You Are
During a couples counseling session, Jeff said to Ali, “I love you as you are.” Jeff was occasionally mean to her and sometimes disconnected, but...
I’m Sorry
Apologies help heal conflict. There are different levels of apologies and each level described below becomes more effective. Level 1: “I’m sorry.” This is the...
Bring Your Stuff
I have a client who routinely shares with others that she’s in marriage counseling. She wants to break down the stigma of counseling by talking...
Who’s Right?
I was in the process of concluding marriage counseling work with a couple. When this couple first came to counseling, they struggled over small issues,...
Between You and I
Carol has two sisters, and they are all close. The three of them share their lives, including talking about their husbands. Carol’s husband, Owen, takes...
Before it’s too Late
The couples most likely to succeed are imbued with trust. Individuals trust that their partner won’t hurt, neglect, or betray them. Last Monday, I had...
Leave the Jerk
When a person is struggling in their relationship, there is a tendency to talk to friends and family about the negative aspects of their partner....
Challenging Times
Bridget and Ed ended up in my office because Bridget had an affair. Ed was shocked because it seemed so out of character for Bridget....