When couples begin couples counseling, I encourage them to address the most difficult issues in the counseling sessions. As couples progress, the issues become more...
Author archive for: drrein
She Makes Me a Better Person
Kate has an issue with Marc’s drinking. Marc’s a golfer and likes to drink with his buddies after golfing. Kate thinks his drinking is excessive—changing...
On The Defense
Gary wanted Emily to take off the Friday before a Monday holiday. Since it was difficult for Emily to do so, she took off Tuesday...
Love Languages
I recently read the book The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. This book has useful concepts for couples. Love languages are the ways...
Let’s Start Over
When a couple escalates, they are in conflict and unlikely to resolve issues. If a couple starts a conversation with a negative statement, the likelihood...
Just Be Kind
In Dr. John Gottman’s Love Lab, he discovered that happy, successful couples have a strong friendship system. The partners know each other’s world, feel fondness...
I Hear What You Say
Healthy, successful couples are able to manage conflict. To improve managing conflict in a relationship, Dr. John Gottman suggests being aware of harsh startups and...
I Can’t Imagine…
Maryanne and Don were deciding whether to have a baby. Maryanne wanted badly to have children and Don was clear that he didn’t. This is...
The Sound Relationship House – Part 2
This is a continuation of last week’s blog regarding Dr. John Gottman’s Sound Relationship House. The fourth level of The Sound Relationship House is the...
The Sound Relationship House – Part 1
The Sound Relationship House is a model developed by Dr. John Gottman to help understand relationships. The three bottom layers of the house create a...