Every relationship is built on something. In this section, we explore what creates long-term strength: shared values, friendship, trust, rituals of connection, and emotional repair. Whether you’re early in marriage or long into partnership, these insights help you revisit — and reinforce — what matters most.
Congratulations on your new family journey! The excitement of a wedding and setting up rooms for the kids slowly gives way to the complexities of blending families. Suddenly, you’re faced with a new set of…
Relationships often resemble gardens—requiring care, nurturing, and attention to thrive. Recently, as I’ve spent more time with those dear to me, I’ve reflected on the factors that genuinely nurture our bonds. These insights, almost like…
Have you ever felt like your partner just doesn’t “get” your emotions? Or struggled to understand why they react so differently to stressful situations? These disconnects may point to an underlying “meta-emotional mismatch”—a term coined…
Dr. Burford is a Christian minister practicing science-based couples therapy through Couples Therapy Inc. He works with all couples with a specialization in couples wanting a biblical perspective. This post originally appeared on his blog. This…
Managing finances is a critical aspect of any relationship, and the decision to pool resources or keep them separate can have a significant impact on a couple’s happiness and stability. In their study “Common Cents:…
Dr. Burford is a Christian minister practicing science-based couples therapy through Couples Therapy Inc. He works with all couples with a specialization on couples wanting a biblical perspective. This post originally appeared on his blog….
Revised 1/26/21 Imagine the possibility of falling in love with a complete stranger in just 45 minutes. Sounds improbable, right? Well, according to the intriguing research conducted by psychologists Arthur and Elaine Aron, it’s not…
This post was recently featured on a podcast episode of Optimal Living Daily. Listen now! In intimate relationships, the first few words of a conversation or conflict can set the tone for what follows. In…
I need to tell my husband something really awkward and kind of embarrassing, I am worried about how he will respond. I’m too embarrassed to even write the details here so can you just tell…
As Ken and Carla arrived at the airport for their long-awaited 10-day trip to Spain, tensions were already high. The couple had hit traffic on the way, and Ken implied that if they had left…
(when you don’t feel as if you deserve it…) Loving yourself is an ongoing challenging process for a lot of us. It involves nurturing a positive relationship with yourself, accepting who you are, and prioritizing…
Learning to fight well and repair relationship conflicts before they spiral out of control is a skill. It’s one of the goals of science-based couples therapy. Do you find your fights escalating out of control?…
In any relationship, accepting influence from one’s partner is crucial for fostering a healthy, collaborative dynamic built on mutual respect. However, research shows that a concerning two-thirds of married men struggle with accepting their wife’s…
What are the top 3 common relationship mistakes? What kills intimacy in a marriage? The answer might surprise you. When you fall in love, it’s easy to imagine that your healthy relationship will bring you…
Child care logistics, tight work schedules, booked-up reservations, pandemic-triggered introversion…there are plenty of factors that influence how we approach our traditions and rituals. Date nights are an important way to make time for each other….
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