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
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