Why It’s Important to Go On Dates with Your Spouse & 3 Ideas to Try
Remember the excitement you felt when you were first dating your spouse? The amount of care you put into your outfit and your appearance? The anticipation of seeing each other and the strong desire to reach out and connect again? Going on dates isn’t something only new couples can enjoy. In fact, even though there […]
How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution in 2025 (Even If You’ve Failed Before)
Every December, millions of us tell ourselves: “This is the year I’ll finally stick to my resolution.” Yet by February, most goals have fizzled out. Sound familiar? After the upheaval of the past few years, it’s natural to wonder if setting resolutions even matters anymore. With so much out of our control, why bother? But […]
What Surrendering in Marriage Really Means (and Why It Builds Trust)
When people hear the word surrender in marriage, it can feel loaded. Many immediately think: Becoming a doormat Losing independence Being taken advantage of But true surrender is not weakness. In fact, it requires self-respect, emotional intelligence, and inner strength. Healthy surrender in marriage is about letting go of unnecessary control, staying open-hearted, and building […]
Should You Work on Your Own “Stuff” Before Trying Couples Therapy?
Should I go to individual therapy before couples therapy? What if my therapist says I’m the problem in my marriage? Can couples therapy help if childhood trauma is involved? Do I need to fix myself before marriage counseling? For many couples, even deciding to go to marriage counseling is a big leap. You may worry […]
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 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 […]
What Are the “Four Horsemen” of Relationships? Here’s What the Research Says
Psychologist Dr. John Gottman has spent over 40 years researching relationships. Considered a leading expert on marital stability, Dr. Gottman is famously known for predicting whether couples will divorce with 90% accuracy. How has he developed such a keen eye for identifying ill-fated marriages? Dr. Gottman credits the work he’s done with over 3,000 newlywed […]
How Marriage Intensives can help you stop marital fights before they start
While it’s unreasonable to think that marriage intensives will eradicate all conflict in a relationship, they can definitely help. By getting to the core issues of your relationship and teaching you practical tools that will help you navigate through the difficult topics and feel more connected, you will find yourself feeling closer to each other […]
I Don’t Love My Spouse Anymore? Which of the 3 Relationship Stages are You In
The stages of a relationship are often misunderstood, and confused with what at first appears to be the end of a marriage. Find yourself saying “I don’t love my spouse anymore”? Wondering what to do if you don’t love your spouse anymore? Wondering if your marriage is over and beyond repair? These feelings are normal […]
No Communication in Marriage? Learn Why. Maximizer vs Minimizer Styles
In a marriage, we need to make sure we communicate effectively. Our communication styles dictate for the most part how we react in certain situations, and the two most common communication styles are maximizers and minimizers. A maximizer is loud and boisterous, while the minimizer is reserved and avoids conflict. This dynamic can become very […]
How to Stop Fight-or-Flight Reactions in Your Marriage
When you feel stressed, it’s hard to make conscious and informed decisions. Instead, your brain shifts into fight-or-flight mode—reacting automatically rather than thoughtfully. In relationships, these reactions often look like: Yelling Shutting down Silent treatment Walking out The problem? Your spouse has their own fight/flight response, which often gets triggered by yours. This creates a […]