Keep a Marriage Gratitude Journal to Help You Appreciate Your Relationship
Nobody means to take their spouse for granted but sometimes we unfortunately get busy with life and our day-to-day routines that we start forgetting how much we appreciate one another. One of the secrets (and maybe it’s not-so-secret) to helping your marriage thrive over time is to maintain an ongoing sense of appreciation and […]
How to Discuss Vaccines When You and Your Spouse Disagree
A healthy marriage is a safe haven. It’s a place where partners can discuss important and often difficult topics with honesty and confidence. But when you and your partner disagree about something as polarizing as the COVID-19 or flu vaccine, the conversation can quickly spiral into unproductive arguments. Many couples have faced this challenge during […]
Is it Okay to See Your Marriage Therapist without Your Spouse?
Most relationship therapists have a policy regarding individual sessions with clients who are attending therapy together. Sometimes counselors allow individual counseling if one party seeks it, while others do not because it can make the other partner feel like their therapist is taking sides. If you have an upcoming session and your partner can’t make […]
On Fighting Fair: How to Disagree with Your Spouse without Fighting
One difference between couples in a healthy versus an unhealthy marriage isn’t whether they argue—it’s how they argue. Think about it; virtually all spouses are going to butt heads from time to time. It’s an inevitable outcome of individual minds creating a life together while still being true to themselves. In fact, a study conducted by John Gottman determined […]
How to Deal With a Toxic Family Member: 4 Steps That Work
Key takeaways Confirm the signs of a toxic family member before acting. Set boundaries with toxic family using short, specific rules—then follow through. Expect pushback; hold consequences calmly (no JADE: don’t justify, argue, defend, explain). Prioritize safety. If behavior crosses into abuse, make a safety plan and seek support. Is this toxic—or just a tough […]
How to Apologize to Your Spouse and Save Your Marriage: 6 Steps to Break the Cycle
When your marriage feels tense, distant, or on the verge of breaking, you don’t have the luxury of waiting for things to “just get better.” Every conversation can feel like walking on eggshells, and the emotional gap between you and your spouse grows a little wider each day. In moments like these, the right kind […]
How Trauma from the Past Affect our Adult Relationships
Sometimes when we try to succeed in life, we are held back by trauma from childhood. Trauma plays a huge role in relationships. Not only does childhood trauma impact your relationship with your parent, it unconsciously influences your partner selection and can impact all of your relationships. We find that people tend to look for […]
When Parents Argue – Do Kids Notice?
Children are receptive to the intricate nuances and body language their parents display in front of them. As much as we would like to believe that our children are spared from the marital discord we experience, John Gottman’s research proves that children experience trauma when their parents argue and fight. “Marital discord can influence children […]
Silent Treatment in Marriage: Why It’s Toxic and How to Stop It
Whether you’re on the receiving end or giving it to your partner, the silent treatment can create a toxic dynamic in marriage. Most of us know what it feels like to shut down during conflict—walking around in cold silence, refusing to respond, or withdrawing behind walls. In the moment, silence may feel like safety or […]
[Clinical Textbook for Therapists] Therapy resources to become more effective when working with couples
Dr. Harville Hendrix just completed the first instructional textbook for clinicians on using Imago therapy with couples! This clinical textbook had been over 10 years in the making and is the HOTTEST new resource for you right now in working with couples in your therapy space. We’ve contacted the publisher and have been able to […]
[Coupon Code PLUS Imago Dialogue Video Examples] Watch Harville and Helen’s New Book, ‘Doing Imago Relationship Therapy’ Come to Life!
Order Harville’s book using Coupon Code for 25% off: Norton90 at http://www.wwnorton.com/ Doing Imago Relationship Therapy In the Space-Between is a MUST-HAVE book in your arsenal of tools for maximizing your therapy work. Here’s what other relationship experts are saying about it: “Straight from the creators of the highly influential Imago Relationship Therapy, this book […]
Should you really talk to someone? A couple’s therapist review of ‘Maybe You Should Talk To Someone” by Lori Gottlieb
It’s no wonder Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb is a runaway best-seller. Written by a therapist about her own personal journey into therapy, it gives readers a vulnerable and intriguing look into what happens behind the scenes of therapy—for both clients and therapists. But beyond being an enjoyable read, it raises […]
How to Bring Up an Issue With Your Spouse Without a Fight (3 Proven Starts)
Key takeaways The way you start a hard talk predicts how it will end; a soft start-up lowers defensiveness. Prepare your message first (facts → feeling → need → single clear ask) so you don’t drift into blame. “Read the room”: pick a good time, ask permission, and create safety to avoid stonewalling or blowups. […]
That’s Funny, Honey: Tips for Using Humor During Marital Conflict to Stop Fights in Their Tracks
Want to know why bringing the heat down a notch during a relationship conflict is so important? Close your eyes and picture the last time you and your spouse laughed together. Really put yourself in that memory, conjuring up how it felt. It felt good, right? Want to feel it again? There’s no question that […]
Relationship Repair Attempts: What They Are, Why They Work & 10 Examples for Your Own Marriage
Relationship researcher Dr. John Gottman calls repair attempts the happy and emotionally intelligent couple’s “secret weapon.” Even if you’ve never heard of them before, it’s possible you and your partner already use repair attempts during conflicts. But hopeful partners be warned; using a repair attempt doesn’t necessarily guarantee it will work. Keep reading to learn more […]
Online Family Counseling: Is Zoom Therapy Right for Your Family?
Families have always faced conflict—between parents and children, siblings, or extended relatives. What’s new is how we can resolve these disputes. Today, families can meet with a licensed therapist not just in person, but also virtually. Online family counseling via Zoom makes it possible to bring everyone together—even if they live in different cities or […]
Have you ended a relationship (or are thinking about divorce) over political differences?
Are you about to end your marriage over political differences? Have you severed ties with other family or friends in the last three months? It’s such a shame to see relationships being destroyed over this especially when it doesn’t have to be this way. I remember as a child I used to talk politics with […]
Watch Marriage & Relationship Videos on a variety of real life topics
The following are a collection of previously recorded webinars- we wanted you to have them all on one page instead of having to search for information about our approach all over our social media channels. We may look different- as some webinar recordings are quite old- but at least you can watch and learn a […]
Understanding The 4 Attachment Styles (And How They Might Influence Your Marriage)
Let’s face it; people are complex. We all have highly personal histories that affect who we are, how we see the world, and how we interact with others. For this reason, it might sound impossible to classify individuals into a just handful of categories used to describe human nature. But decades of psychological research suggests this kind of broad categorization […]
Setting Goals As a Couple: Strategies on Lasting Achievement
We use goals to improve all areas of our lives—from health and finances to career and marriage. And accomplishing a goal isn’t even the only benefit of setting one in the first place! It turns out that the very act of setting and working toward a goal can boost your well-being and self-confidence. Having a personal mission or objective provides a […]