Tim attended a couples counseling session by himself because his wife Debbie was staying home with their sick 9 year old son Bobby. The parents...
Relationship Resources Blog
Each day my life is enriched by listening to and guiding couples as they bring their raw experiences to sessions and we try to make sense of difficult times. Through these blog posts, I hope to give readers a snapshot of our work including examples of the real issues that people bring, and how we can find meaning and a path out together. Their identities are protected, but each experience is real. Because relationships are complex, my role is to help couples share their experiences while providing a conceptual road map to understand their experiences, finding a way out of the woods of painful experiences. This blog shares stories and concepts; I hope it provides hope, insight and richness to each reader’s own journey.
Overcoming Toxicity
Colin and Lauren had an awful relationship. Lauren initially described her relationship as toxic. She said it was unhealthy, dysfunctional, and included screaming and swearing....
Intimate Conversations
Ron and Betsy were struggling. Now in their sixties, sex was a central issue in their relationship. Betsy wanted to restore their sex life. She...
Conflict Averted
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...
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....