Healing After Infidelity: First Steps to Rebuilding Trust
Healing After Infidelity: First Steps to Rebuilding Trust in Your Marriage If you’ve just discovered your spouse was unfaithful, it may feel like your world has shattered. The shock, betrayal, and pain can leave you wondering if your marriage can ever recover. For couples who decide to stay together following an affair, there are certain […]
Can a Marriage Survive Political Differences? How to Stop Fighting and Reconnect
If you’ve ever thought, “My spouse and I fight constantly about politics” or “My husband is obsessed with politics—what do I do?”, you’re not alone. In today’s polarized world, political disagreements are straining even the strongest marriages. Politics can spark heated arguments, hurt feelings, and resentment. One spouse may feel dismissed or attacked when the […]
10 Date-Night Ideas to Rekindle Your Relationship
When you think back on the history and health of your marriage and relationship, it’s easy to see that for many couples, the most exciting period is when you initially start dating. From completing all the ‘firsts’ of a new relationship together, like your first dinner out, first dance, and first kiss, to the excitement […]
The Five C’s in Marriage:The Key Building Blocks to a Successful Relationship
For any couple who is in a romantic relationship and is considering marriage or already married, it’s important to take a moment to examine the health of the relationship itself. Are you feeling loved, supported and valued? Is your partner? Are there any aspects of your relationship that are in need of some assistance? How […]
The Principles of Imago Therapy Explained
For any couple who feels stuck in their relationship, it can be incredibly painful to admit that something isn’t working. Whether your marriage feels stagnant or conflict seems to erupt frequently, the sense that your relationship is unraveling can be both heartbreaking and overwhelming. When couples finally reach the point of realizing they need help, […]
Reigniting the Spark: How to Bring Back the Passion in a Stagnant Relationship
If your marriage feels more like a friendship than a romantic partnership, you’re not alone — and you’re not broken. One of the most painful challenges couples face is a sexless marriage. It’s often not about libido or love; it’s about disconnection, unmet needs, and unspoken resentment that builds over time. But the good news? […]
Best Couples Retreats Near You: How to Find the Right Marriage Counseling Retreat
By By Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, LCPC — Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Advanced Imago Relationship Therapist, and co-founder of The Marriage Restoration Project. For more than 20 years, he’s helped couples transform hopeless marriages into lasting connection through structured dialogue and emotional safety. When it comes to marriage, there’s little many of us wouldn’t do to […]
What to Expect from a Weekend Marriage Counseling Session
When it comes to the most important relationships in our lives, like our marriage, it’s often easy to become complacent and take things for granted. Life can quickly get in the way of spending quality time together and you can settle into a routine that simply gets you through your day. But this can be […]
Marriage Counseling Retreat vs Weekly Therapy: Which Is Better for Your Relationship?
If your marriage feels strained, you’ve already taken the hardest step — acknowledging that something needs to change.The next question many couples ask is: “Should we start weekly marriage counseling or try a marriage counseling retreat?” Both can help you rebuild connection and communication, but they’re very different experiences.This guide breaks down the key differences […]
Can having kids ruin a relationship? What we WISH we would have known about having children and our marriage.
Can having kids ruin a relationship? What we WISH we would have known about having children and our marriage. In this episode, we explore the immense strain that having children can place on marriages. With parents ranking as the most stressed adult population in the U.S., we dive into the challenges that arise in relationships, […]
A Getaway to Restore Your Marriage: Upcoming Intensives & Retreats
When you’re at (or near) a breaking point, even admitting “we need help” can feel huge. The good news: choosing the right container—often an intensive retreat—can compress months of progress into days and give you a clear plan forward. Key Takeaways (read this first) Faster progress: Retreats bundle 6–8 hours/day of focused work so you […]
Intensive Marriage Counseling: What It Is, Who It’s For, and How to Start
It hurts to admit when your marriage isn’t working the way you hoped. Whether you’re drained by time/energy pressures or navigating something heavier—like betrayal or grief—there is a path back. The turning point for most couples? Admitting you need help and choosing the right kind of support—often a seasoned marriage counselor.¹ What Is Intensive Marriage […]
Couples Therapy Intensives in Maryland | No Blame, No Shame Marriage Retreats
BLOG Heal Your Marriage Fast with Maryland’s Trusted Couples Therapy Intensives Are you searching for couples therapy intensives in Maryland to repair your marriage and rediscover connection?At The Marriage Restoration Project, we help couples across Baltimore, Columbia, and Howard County transform years of pain into renewed partnership—often in just two days. Why Maryland Couples […]
Couples Counseling Retreats: What to Expect and How to Prepare
If you’re considering a couples counseling retreat or intensive marriage therapy, you may be wondering: what exactly happens—and how do we prepare? Many couples search for answers like ‘what should I expect at a marriage retreat’ or ‘how to get ready for couples counseling.’ This guide will walk you through both. As we age and […]
[Podcast episode] What to Do When You and Your Spouse Disagree on Politics
Key Takeaways Political differences in marriage don’t have to be make-or-break issues. Disagreements become destructive when they are handled with reactivity instead of curiosity. Learning to separate identity from ideology helps partners avoid personalizing differences. Respect, empathy, and boundaries are essential tools when spouses disagree on politics. Strong marriages are built on shared values of […]
Rediscover Love with Maryland’s Premier Marriage Counseling & Retreats
Are you and your partner facing challenges in your relationship? At The Marriage Restoration Project based in Baltimore, Frederick, Harford and Howard County, Maryland, we specialize in helping couples break through the stuck places in their relationship. Through Imago Relationship Therapy, private counseling, and intensive marriage retreats, we give couples the tools to rebuild trust, […]
I have different priorities and goals than my partner. Do your couples goals not match?!
It’s very tempting to think you aren’t on the same page anymore as your partner. Your goals and priorities are just too different. And that makes sense, after all, you might have some real disagreements about some hot button issues. 🔥🔥 ✅ Sometimes though, your goals ARE a match to your partners’ but there has […]
[Podcast Episode] Healing Relationship Anxiety & Generational Trauma
Key Takeaways Why Anxiety in Relationships Runs So Deep We are wounded in relationships — often in childhood — and those wounds shape how we show up as adults. If our parents struggled with anxiety passed down from their own parents, they may not have been able to fully attune to our needs. This isn’t […]
[Podcast Episode] What Stage of Relationship or Marriage Are You In?
Key Takeaways Why Understanding the Stages of Marriage Matters Every relationship evolves. Knowing which stage you’re in can: Psychologists like Harville Hendrix (Getting the Love You Want) and John Gottman (The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work) emphasize that relationships go through predictable phases. Couples who understand the stages of marriage are better prepared to […]
Respond vs. React: How No-Blame, No-Shame Communication Can Transform Your Marriage
By Rivka Slatkin, Co-Founder of The Marriage Restoration Project I’ll be honest—I find it really hard to respond vs. react. It takes effort to use conscious, compassionate communication instead of falling back on my default reaction—especially when I’m tired, hungry, or feeling threatened. But here’s the truth: nothing “forces” us to grow more than marriage […]