Individuals committed to complete honesty makes them more accountable for their behaviors. People don’t want to share uncomfortable or embarrassing behaviors, therefore they are more...
Archive for category: Relationship Counseling
Honestly – Part 1
The importance of honesty is sometimes assumed but needs to be talked about explicitly. For successful couples, honesty is at the core of their relationship....
Looping
Escalation is the primary reason for relationship distress. It occurs when individuals attack their partner and partners attack back. However, there’s another process that’s problematic...
How Affairs Begin
Julie and Dave came to me after Julie’s affair was discovered. Individuals who have affairs are not typically looking for an affair partner. The relationship...
Constructive Criticism
There is no such thing as constructive criticism. In relationships criticism is actually destructive. If one is critical in a relationship, the individual is putting...
Choose Well
Problems are inevitable in relationships. The problems individuals deal with in their relationship depend on who they marry or commit to. Partners have unique personalities,...
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...
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...