Tricia and Dave shared with me about a fight they had. Tricia was upset when she had a distressing argument with her brother. Dave could...
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.
I’m Not Sure This Is The Right Relationship
Kevin said, “I’m not sure this is the right relationship for me.” Patty found this statement extremely distressing. Kevin and Patty disconnected from one another,...
Goose Bumps
Judy is the wife of a couple with whom I’ve been working. When I asked her what she wanted to accomplish in couples therapy, her...
A Sad Announcement
Karen announced in our first session that she didn’t want to continue the relationship with her husband, Rob. Although she reported that she still liked...
Get Over It
Carol was frustrated at work. She worked for a company for eight years, and there was a particular position for which she was aspiring. She...
A Bad Day At The Office
One of the most unpleasant experiences in couples counseling, although uncommon, is when an individual uses the session to announce that he or she wants...
What Do I Need To Do To Fix It?
When Sherri and Ed met, Ed was involved in another relationship. As Ed and Sherri got closer, Ed told Sherri that he ended his former...
This Isn’t the Jerry Springer Show
In my first session with Pete and Diane I asked about previous couples counseling experiences. I like to learn what worked previously and what wasn’t...
Respect and Appreciation
Will and Sharon were fighting in the car. Will was willing to take over a project that Sharon was struggling with, but Sharon wasn’t ready...
I Never Met Anyone Like You
I was having another difficult session with Cheryl and John. Their issues were complex and difficulties longstanding. Then John shockingly said, “I never met anyone...
Feedback Loops
One goal in couples counseling is to have respectful conversations about relationship issues that need to be addressed. If a couple escalates with each other,...
Suspicion
Donna came to me deciding whether to continue her marriage. She was very unhappy the last few years and suspected that her husband Chris was...