Can Your Marriage Survive after a Loss? How to Support a Grieving Spouse While Protecting Your Bond
When tragedy strikes – Gd forbid—whether it’s the sudden death of a loved one, the loss of a long-held career, or another life-altering event—it doesn’t just affect the person experiencing the loss. It ripples through the relationship, testing the connection between partners in ways neither may have expected. To ensure your marriage can survive after […]
Reconnecting With Your Spouse After the Kids Move Out: How to Fix an Empty Nest Marriage
You’ve spent decades building your family — driving to practices, helping with homework, and juggling careers and responsibilities. Now, the house is quiet. The laundry piles are smaller. And for the first time in years, it’s just the two of you again. Many couples find this stage disorienting. The excitement of your children’s independence can […]
Surviving the Holidays After an Affair: How to Cope, Heal, and Rebuild Trust
Surviving the Holidays After an Affair: A Practical, Heartfelt Guide The holidays are supposed to be a season of warmth, connection, and family. But when you’re dealing with the shock and heartbreak of infidelity, everything about the holidays becomes a trigger—the family gatherings, the photos, the traditions, the pressure to “be happy.” If you’re navigating […]
Burnout and Your Marriage: Supporting Each Other Through Stress
Is Work Stress Coming Between You and Your Partner? If you’ve noticed that your partner comes home quiet, tense, or checked out lately — you’re not imagining it. Many couples today say the same thing: “We barely talk anymore because of work.” When one or both partners are in high-stress jobs or dealing with ongoing […]
We’re Drifting Apart: How to Stay Close During Life’s Big Changes
Are You Feeling More Like Roommates Than Partners Lately? Many couples hit a point where they ask themselves, “What happened to us?” It could be after the kids leave home, when a job changes, a parent dies, or even when retirement begins. You thought things would feel easier—but instead, you’re fighting more or barely talking. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Renewing a Stagnant Marriage? Why a Weekend Intensive Might Be the Game-Changer
When it comes to the most important relationships in our lives—like our marriage— it’s 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 subtle drift 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 […]
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 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 […]
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, […]
Is There Something Wrong With Going to Couples Therapy? 4 Things Therapists Want You to Know First
If you’re thinking about going to marriage therapy, you might quietly be asking yourself: Does this mean something is wrong with my relationship? Many couples are asking the question, “Is there something wrong with going to couples therapy?” You are NOT alone. Seeking therapy is often a sign of strength, not failure. The reason your […]
In-Law Conflict: How to Protect Your Marriage and Set Healthy Boundaries
When Disagreements With In-Laws Start Hurting Your Marriage It’s completely normal for couples to experience moments of tension with their in-laws. But when disagreements turn into ongoing conflict, they can seriously strain your relationship. Many couples come to counseling saying, “My husband always takes his mother’s side,” or “I can’t handle my in-laws anymore—it’s tearing […]
After the Affair: How Honest Communication Can Help You Heal or Move On
Learning to Communicate Again After Infidelity Learning how to communicate again after experiencing infidelity is one of the most difficult obstacles a couple can face in a lifetime. However, it’s worth putting in the work because a relationship can never experience a deep emotional connection if partners cannot express themselves openly and feel understood. Infidelity […]
Control Issues in a Relationship: Why They Happen & How to Fix Them
by Shlomo Slatkin, LCPC, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and co-founder of The Marriage Restoration Project. Many couples search for answers like: “Why is my partner so controlling?” “Am I being controlling in my relationship?” “How do I stop controlling my spouse?” “What are the signs of controlling behavior in marriage?” Control issues don’t just appear […]
How Is Imago Marriage Counseling Different? Comparing Options When You’ve Tried Everything Else
One of the most common questions I hear from couples is: “How is your marriage counseling program different from the other counseling we’ve already tried?” At our last group retreat in Baltimore, a couple asked on the very first day: “Our previous therapist told us we were too volatile and should get divorced. How is […]