How to Be a Better Listener in Your Relationship
Every relationship has its ups and downs, but one key factor that can make or break a partnership is communication. And while we often focus on what we say and how we say it, the…
-
-
Setting Healthy Boundaries with In-Laws
As a clinical psychologist, I often work with couples navigating the complexities of in-law relationships. It can be tough but important to set boundaries with in-laws to keep a good relationship with your partner. By…
-
How Empathy in Marriage Can Help Navigate Conflict
Empathy, the ability to understand and share another’s feelings, is a crucial skill in any relationship, especially in marriage. As a clinical psychologist, I have witnessed firsthand how empathy can make or break a couple’s…
-
The Struggle to Set Boundaries: Navigating Cultural Messages and Learning to Say “No”
Picture Nancy, a woman in her 60s who has spent her life putting others first. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she’s always been the caregiver everyone turns to for help. However, as much as…
-
Reframing: A Powerful Tool for Coping with Stress in Relationships
Stress is an inevitable part of life, and it can significantly affect our relationships. Whether it’s financial strain, health issues, or parenting challenges, stress can lead to tension, conflict, and emotional distress in couples and…
-
Bad Marriage: Painful Costs of Living In or Leaving It
Living in a bad marriage is very costly…expensive to your health, your wealth, and your entire family. People get physically ill in bad relationships. Research shows that chronic relationship troubles increase the rate of heart…
-
Men and Emotional Affairs: The Slippery Slope
Emotional affairs (EAs) have become an increasingly common problem in relationships, particularly among men. While often overlooked or dismissed as harmless friendships, these intimate emotional connections can slowly erode the bond between committed partners. Recent…
-
Healing After Betrayal: Understanding and Managing Intrusive Thoughts After Infidelity
Infidelity can be one of the most devastating experiences for a relationship. The betrayal, loss of trust, and intense emotions that follow can feel overwhelming for the Hurt Partner. Intrusive thoughts and rumination about the…
-
The Waiting Game: Hoping for Change That Doesn’t Come
You love them. They say they love you, too. But something’s not right. You’ve been together long enough to know this isn’t a casual fling. You’ve invested time, energy, vulnerability—and now you’re quietly waiting for…
-
6 Strategies for Balancing Work and Marriage
In today’s fast-paced world, juggling the demands of work and marriage can be a daunting task. Many couples struggle to find the right balance, often leading to stress, burnout, and relationship strain. As a clinical…
-
Flooding in Relationships: Understanding Causes, Effects, and Coping Strategies
Conflicts and disagreements are inevitable in relationships. However, when these disputes escalate, they can lead to a phenomenon called “flooding” or Diffuse Physiological Arousal (DPA). Flooding is a term coined by renowned relationship expert Dr….
-
The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy
Of course, we know that infants and children experience developmental tasks and challenges emotionally, cognitively, and physically. But theorists Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson argue that a couple’s relationship also experiences developmental stages as…
-
Unlocking the Secrets of Trust: Insights from Gottman’s “The Science of Trust”
Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, but what exactly is trust, and how can we build and maintain it with our partners? As Gottman states, “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the…
-
Exploring Sexual Trance: The Sensory Path to Deep Erotic Engagement
This is the second in a five-part series on Sexual Styles. Here is Part One exploring the depth of sexual arousal. Have you ever been so entirely absorbed in a sexual experience that the rest…
-
How Early Caregiver Interactions Shape Your Lifelong Relationship Patterns
Introduction: Have you ever wondered why you tend to repeat certain patterns in your relationships? The answer may lie in your earliest bonds with your caregivers. Recent psychology research is shedding light on how the…
-
Am I a “Nice Guy?”
How do I know if I am a passive aggressive (“Nice Guy”) husband? Iceberg Syndrome You talk about your intimate self (doubts, fears, insecurities, resentments) on a “need to know” basis. Why rub it in?…
-
Unveiling the Depths of Sexual Involvement: Mosher’s Three Dimensions
When it comes to human sexuality, there’s more than meets the eye. Beyond the physical aspects of arousal and orgasm lies a complex tapestry of emotional, psychological, and interpersonal factors that shape our sexual experiences….
-
Solving the Puzzle of Delayed Ejaculation: New Insights and Strategies
Imagine the frustration and confusion of struggling to reach orgasm during sex despite having a rock-hard erection. For men with delayed ejaculation (DE), this is a reality that can strain relationships and erode self-esteem. But…
-
Secure and Disorganized Attachment Combination
In this post, we’ll delve into the intricate dynamics of the Secure and Avoidant attachment combination. We’ll discuss the push-pull pattern, emotional swings, and deep-seated fears that characterize this combination and how they impact the…
-
-
Why Women Complain (and Why Men Should Do More of it)
Complaining is gender-linked behavior. John Gottman says women make 85% of complaints in a relationship, while men complain 15% in heterosexual relationships. When done well, it is the secret to better emotional connections (and I’ll…
-
Will Couples Therapy Work? Crucial Elements That Predict Success
Intensive couples therapy can be a powerful tool for helping struggling relationships get back on track. However, not all couples who seek therapy end up with a happily ever after ending. What makes the difference…
-
Sex Addiction and the Truths About Recovery
Editor’s Note: This article brings together personal, clinical, and neuroscientific perspectives on the impact of compulsive sexual behavior in marriage. At Couples Therapy Inc., we are not a sex addiction treatment center. However, we work…
-
The Hardest Part of Being a Therapist
I was recently asked what the hardest part of being a couples therapist was. The hardest part of being a couples therapist is to face two people who want to divorce, but to believe sincerely…
End of content
End of content