Relationship Threats

Over the years, I’ve encountered numerous relationship challenges in my work with couples. One particularly complex issue that often arises is displaced aggression when one partner redirects their frustrations onto people close to their significant…

Dear Dr. K, Why can’t I leave or tell him to leave. My husband lies, cheats and takes lots of money. He still sees his affair partner but denies it. What is wrong with me?…

Dear Dr. K, How do I go about getting my spouse to make steps to stop drinking and stop spending lots of money on alcohol? For example what do I start saying and what do…

Dear Dr. K, I married my husband after dating for five months because I was pregnant and felt like it was the right thing to do. I was codependent with him for the first 15-18…

Emotional abuse doesn’t need a frequent flyer card to be real. Once is already too much. Dear Dr. K, I appreciate your article on verbal/emotional abuse, especially the “20 minute cooling off” period. I would,…

It’s not unusual for couples to argue. But when one partner frequently escalates—gets impatient, uses a harsh tone, overreacts to everyday problems—and then expects everything to be forgotten by morning, the dynamic becomes much more…

Is your primary relationship or your marriage plagued by fights that leave one or both of you feeling unheard, unseen, unloved, disrespected, unprotected, defensive, controlled, or lacking in security? There are only so many reasons…

I received three similar inquiries: Is it ok for one to call one’s spouse “useless” in any context? Is it normal for my man to call me a lazy pig? My husband calls me names,…

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…

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…

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?…

by Dr. Doug Burford Editor’s Note: This long-form article by Dr. Doug Burford, a Christian minister and science-based couples therapist practicing in Kansas City, Missouri (Overland Park, Kansas) at Couples Therapy Inc., explores the painful…

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. Narcissistic…

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. Relationships…