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 […]
10 Signs of Emotional Abuse in Marriage (and How to Heal)
Is Emotional Abuse Quietly Hurting Your Marriage? Here’s How to Recognize It—and Heal Together When couples come to us feeling disconnected, they often say,“We love each other… but something just feels off.”Maybe the spark is gone. Maybe communication feels tense. Maybe you’re walking on eggshells. What many don’t realize is that emotional abuse—often unintentional and […]
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 […]
What should I do when my husband ignores me?
If your husband ignores you, you may be feeling uncomfortable, sad, or even mad. Keep reading to gain more clarity about what is happening and what you can do to positively impact the situation. Reasons Your Husband Ignores You While there are many possible reasons you are feeling ignored by your husband, here are a […]
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 […]
Body Language and other non verbal communication problems in marriage
Did you know that there is a silent 3rd partner in your marriage? That’s your body language and your non verbal communication. You can fix your non verbal communication problems in marriage through the following communication problems we noticed in the presidential debates! More inspiration about communication problems in marriage and how to shift them: […]
Marriage Issues: Stopping Emotional Abuse in Marriage
What is emotional abuse in marriage? It can be hard to quantify since it differs greatly from physical abuse but can be the slippery slope that leads to it. Emotional Abuse: What You Should Know Emotional abuse is a topic we get questions about often. So many relationships are suffering from emotional abuse. Stopping emotional […]
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 […]
Getting Over an Affair: Your 7-Step Emergency Guide
If you’ve just discovered your spouse had an affair, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed—hurt, betrayed, angry, confused, or even ashamed. Whether you had the affair or your partner did, you’ve landed here because you’re looking for marriage counseling specializing in affair recovery. First, know this: there is hope. Healing after infidelity is one of the hardest […]
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 […]