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
Nearly half of adults experience a mental illness at least once in their lifetime. Research and practical experience tells us that mental illness can cause a person to have decreased quality of life, decreased productivity and employment, and even impaired physical health. A mental illness—including post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and a…Read More
By Dr. Jamie Long of The Psychology Group We are delighted to have Dr. Jamie Long guest blog for us. Dr. Jamie is a trusted expert in the mental health community and has regular guest appearances on national radio publications and podcasts. Her blog, Finding Cloud Nine is widely popular and informative. The Impact of Validation in Relationships Validation is a critical communication tool and exp…Read More
Many people are confused by the word "codependency." When they hear it, they think it simply means that a person is "clingy" and needy. But in fact, codependency is considered a specific and harmful mental and behavioral condition. It frequently has a generational pattern within families and is often referred to as "relationship addiction." Changing the dynamics of a codependent relationship ca…Read More
During an interview on the popular podcast The Tim Ferriss Show, famous entrepreneur and businessman Sir Richard Branson once suggested a simple yet important thought experiment to listeners. We'll paraphrase that thought experiment here: Think back to the few biggest mistakes or arguments of your marriage. Now think how many of them occurred when one or both of you were under the influence of …Read More
Being friends with your spouse is a gift and directly benefits you both. As relationship researcher and psychologist Dr. John Gottman has said, "Happy marriages are based on a deep friendship." But all too often, as couples deepen their bond and spend more and more time together, the other friendships they had prior to the primary relationship start to fall away. Is this a bad thing? Not necess…Read More
Every relationship has its conflicts and communication issues. But not all relationship problems are created equal. Research from esteemed psychologist and relationship expert Dr. John Gottman reveals at least four characteristics which tend to spell serious trouble for intimate partners. So damaging are their effects that together they've earned an ominous nickname—The Four Horsemen. But while…Read More
"Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live; it is asking others to live as one wishes to live." -Oscar Wilde In this quote, Wilde poetically hits at the heart of selfishness. Said another way, selfishness is the tendency to expect someone else to live according to your values, rather than their own. Of course, to be selfish is a human trait—which means every one of us expresses it f…Read More
When we think about how to express our love over the holidays, we often get caught up on grand gestures like expensive gifts or fancy dinners out. But, it's the little day to day gestures that build connection and communicate how much we care. These small acts of kindness take little to no time at all and help ensure that your spouse feels how much you appreciate them during the most wonderful ti…Read More
If you’ve ever built a fire, then you know that the kindling process is very important. Once the smallest spark comes to life, a blazing fire is born. As the fire reaches its peak, maintaining the heat takes careful concentration and finesse. If not frequently stoking it, the fire will fizzle out. The same can be said about relationships. Neglecting it for too long is a sign that you might nee…Read More