4 Things to Do When Dealing With a Toxic Family Member
It’s normal to have arguments, disagreements, and moments of frustration with our in-laws and close loved ones. If the disconnect becomes harmful and toxic, far beyond the occasional “button pushing” that all family members engage in it’s time to take action. “Family.” The word is dynamic, diverse, and loaded with history—and for all of us, occasional conflict, too. How […]
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 […]
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 […]
3 Insightful Ways to Bring Up an Issue With Your Spouse
Want to talk to your husband or wife about something important but don’t know how to bring it up without starting a fight or scaring them away? Whether you’re an introvert, an empath, or find it difficult to have a conversation about something important with your partner; the key to a happy marriage is communication. […]
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 […]
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 […]
A New Study Suggests Emotional Flexibility Is Central to a Healthy Marriage (Here’s How to Cultivate It)
Do you ever feel like your marriage is stuck in the same arguments, the same patterns, or the same disconnect? When couples hit a crossroads—wondering whether to keep fighting for their marriage or let go—it’s tempting to focus on the big questions: Do we still love each other? Can we trust again? Is this fixable? […]
Marriage help to help the therapist | Therapy for the therapist
Covid hit us all hard. And no one was hit harder than health professionals! Self care moved from being just a concept to a very real necessity. Health professionals realized that they needed to learn how to do more self care pronto. And so therapy for therapists is something that is very much needed. Funny […]
What Should Parents Do When Their Married Kids Fight?
Beyond the long to-do list you’ll have as the mother or father of the bride or groom, one of the most important roles you’ll step into is learning how to support your adult child in their new marriage—without overstepping. You want to remain a caring parent, but not get overly involved in your son’s or […]
Long Distance Couples Therapy
Living apart from your partner is hard enough. It’s even more challenging when you need long distance couples therapy. How do you work on a relationship when you don’t even see each other on a regular basis? There are many reasons why couples may need distance counseling. For some, one spouse is deployed or working […]
Interview with Alisa DiLorenzo of One Extraordinary Marriage | Strengthen Communication, Enjoy Better Intimacy & Build Trust
We had the privilege of chatting about marital intimacy with Alisa DiLorenzo of One Extraordinary Marriage. Alisa and Tony DiLorenzo of One Extraordinary Marriage What I like about her work is that is born out of experience. Just like Rivka and I, Alisa and her husband Tony started helping couples after they experienced their own […]
Communicating with your spouse doesn’t have to stink! (Video Series)
Communicating with your spouse doesn’t have to be so hard. And yet communication problems are the #1 biggest reported problem for most married couples. Truthfully, achieving healthy communication really is one of the hardest things to learn how to do well! Relationship communication coaching can help improve your emotional and physical intimacy so that you […]
Can a married couple recover from infidelity?
Yes, if they want to. The key to a marriage surviving after infidelity is rebuilding trust. Ultimately, it all comes down to how much the couple wants the marriage to work and the effort both people want to make to save it. Infidelity is never an easy thing. It is extremely painful for the spouse […]
What is Financial Infidelity? 8 Signs to Look Out for (And What to Do About It)
It’s often said that conflict over money is one of the leading causes of divorce. And with nearly three-quarters of Americans experiencing financial worry right now, it’s reasonable to presume many marriages across the country are facing increasing strain and challenge. For some couples, money conflict can progress to a damaging situation known as financial infidelity. While financial infidelity doesn’t generally […]
3 Ways Grief Can Affect Your Relationship
How to Support a Grieving Spouse Supporting a grieving spouse is not about having the “right words.” It’s about creating safety, patience, and presence while they navigate a painful and unpredictable process. Here are some practical ways to help: 1. Talk Honestly About Grief Invite your partner to share what grief looks and feels like […]
Half of All Emotional Affairs End with Physical Cheating. Here’s Why—and What You Can Do About It
It starts out so innocently. You’re texting someone who “just gets you.” They ask how your day is. They remember that your mom was in the hospital. They make you laugh. They listen. And after a while, you notice you’re not sharing those same things with your spouse anymore. The connection that was once sacred […]