

Effective Communication (Even in Conflict)
"By far, the number one goal most people come to therapy for is to communicate better (followed closely by decreasing conflict)... If y


Communication and Teamwork as Parenting Partners
How do you keep your sanity as a parenting couple? Communication, checking in with each other, and practicing gratitude may be valuable keys


Finding Joy Through Positive Perception
Practicing intentional positivity to outweigh the negativity brought more joy and harmony to these people’s lives as well as decreased confl


Getting to the Root: Relationship Tending
You've got to clear out the stuff that's not important, prioritize and care for what is, and continually keep an eye on it.


Empty Cups and Oxygen Masks
Practicing healthier self-care and relationship-care leads to overall happiness and satisfaction.


A United Front: Parenting as a Couple in the Midst of Kid Chaos
My wife and I recently decided on a shared epitaph for our gravestone. The summation of our accomplishments in life would be expressed thusly: “They accomplished morning sex in spite of three children running around the house”. In the therapy world, we talk about an idea called “range of affect”. Range of affect means that a person is able to experience a wide range of emotions appropriate to different situations. This is actually a positive indicator of mental health. Therap


Infomercials, Autopilot, and Adam Sandler
One of my favorite infomercials is for the Slap Chop. (No, I’m not compensated for this, nor do I necessary endorse this product.) If you don’t know what this product is, please visit the website here: www.slapchop.com. It’s a simple gadget to make slicing and dicing different foods a breeze with minimal effort and easy cleanup. The reason I love this infomercial is not necessarily for the actual product, but the way the salesperson is presenting it. That it will basically so


Don't Be Like Abby and Allen
Abby and Allen (fictitious characters, of course) are on the road to disaster if they keep heading down the same path. What can they do to t


Signs You're In a Troubled Relationship: Silence
In my last blog post, I addressed lonliness as a sign that you may be falling into a troubled relationship. Feeling lonely while in a relationship with someone signals that you have disconnected somehow and are struggling to find the spark that initially brought you together in the beginning. Today, I'm addressing another topic that could be a red flag in your relationship: silence. Don't get me wrong, the comfortable silences where you know what the other person is feeling a


Signs You're In a Troubled Relationship: Loneliness
"We used to be best friends and now we hardly speak." "It's like we're just roommates living parallel lives." "I feel more alone now than when I was single." "We are so disconnected. He/she just doesn't get me anymore." I hear these things often when I work with couples who come to see me. There are tears, hurt feelings, sadness, and sometimes even hopelessness when we talk about the current state of their relationship. Sadly, some couples come to counseling when it's way too