Erin and Jeff had two young children and were frequently in conflict. Now a stay-at-home mother, Erin expected Jeff to know what she needed. For...
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.
Have the Conversation
Last night, I watched a movie, Hope Gap, about a husband who had withdrawn from his wife.Her constant criticism of him led him to retreat....
No Recourse to Clarity
I was now meeting with Paul and Jessica every 3 months and in their last session, Paul was reflecting on what they were doing differently....
Profound Simplicity
If you want to be a better person, there is no better place to work on this than in your relationship. Every day, you can...
Formula for Success
When Alyssa feels unimportant, she gets angry, but her husband, Dave, experiences her anger as an attack. Instead, now she will tell Dave that she’s...
Heating Up
Some folks are microwaves—they heat up quickly but cool off quickly. Others are ovens—they gradually heat up but need time to cool down. These personality...
Big Decisions
One of the biggest decisions someone will make is who they choose to marry. For most, the decision is easy. There is something unique and...
Into the Future
Criticism erodes relationships. Being mindful that your words are non-critical is a key to success. If your partner reacts or responds defensively to your words,...
We’ve Grown Apart
Two of the more common reasons for divorcing are: we’ve grown apart or we have stopped talking to each other. In fact, even successful relationships...
Marital Health
Some individuals can’t get their partners into marriage counseling until bringing up divorce. The person may have been talking about getting help for their marital...
Better Versions
Drew is in his early forties, and Kristine is in her late thirties. Neither has been married before. They have been together for 2 years...
What Would Have Worked For Me
In our couples counseling session, Tom began to tell Ally what she should have done in a particular situation. I interrupted him and asked him...