How often should you and your spouse have sex? The answer: As often as it takes for you both to feel satisfied—which, according to a 2015 study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, is about once a week for most happily married couples. Of course, you and your partner might have sex more often than this, which is great. Just know you don't have to hold yourselves to t…Read More
Have you ever felt (or were told) that you're "going crazy"? Maybe there was something "off" about a prior relationship you can't put your finger on. Perhaps your current partner frequently says things like "You're not remembering that correctly" or "That's not how it happened." While subtle, these signs often point to an underlying interpersonal dynamic that can be extremely detrimental. Read on …Read More
The catchy adage "Money can't buy me love" has a lot of truth to it...at least to a point. A well-known 2010 study out of Princeton University found that beyond a certain income threshold—$75,000 per year, apparently—a person doesn't report more and more happiness, no matter how high their income goes. But even if money can't buy you love and happiness, it sure can have a negative impact on…Read More
Just about everyone has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in some way. For couples with kids, the added stress of homeschooling (even while working full-time from home), raised tensions from close and frequent contact, and generalized anxiety about the uncertain times can seem overwhelming. To avoid getting overwhelemed during this transition—and to help your children feeling overwhelmed,…Read More
Imagine this scenario: You notice your partner seems anxious about something. You're not sure what's going on, but all day they've been acting agitated and on edge. How do you respond? Is there a part of you that begins to worry or perceive their mood as a rejection of you? What do you say to your partner about your concerns—if anything? Do you reach out, even if you're not sure how? Part…Read More
Nobody is immune to stress, and during these unprecedented times—a global pandemic that's nearly shut down the economy worldwide—high degrees of stress can be a daily occurrence. For couples, stressful moments can both fortify or strain a relationship. If you're currently spending most of your time at home because of social distancing efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, keep these followi…Read More
It's not hard to imagine how negativity can be damaging for a healthy relationship. The problem is, we see so many examples of negative interactions between couples—on television, in movies, and in "real life"—that nagging, teasing, criticizing, or speaking poorly of our partners (even if you're "just joking") can start to seem like normal behavior. And sure, maybe negativity is "normal" or a…Read More
When dating someone new, the feelings you experience as you get to know each other can be incredibly exciting. And once you're out of the "honeymoon phase," the next stage of your relationship can be just as rewarding—the time to build a deeper bond grounded in trust and genuine love. But even when genuine love is there, it's understandable to have some worries about the future. Is this perso…Read More
Couples in conflict can experience a significant amount of pain and crisis. This pain becomes amplified when partners struggle to communicate their feelings with each other. In these cases, it's often invaluable to consult with an objective third-party such as a licensed marriage and family therapist. A therapist can offer professional and impartial insights that helps couples care not only for …Read More
How important is forgiveness? Research shows that the ability to seek and give forgive your spouse is an essential component to healthy and fulfilling relationship. Of course, you don't have to be in an intimate relationship to know that forgiveness can be a challenging gift to give, although being hurt by someone you love deeply can be exceptionally distressing. Even so, forgiveness truly is a …Read More