Hi! I'm a healthy relationship. I might not look exactly like what you had in mind. In fact, I might even look quite different when I'm with different couples, depending on those individuals' personalities and preferences. And I can even change and evolve over time with the same two people! But there are some important traits and characteristics that you'll definitely notice about me. A Healthy …Read More
Social media is definitely a double-edged sword. On the one hand, social media helps us connect to loved ones, expand our social and professional networks, share information, and discover new products, brands, and ideas that we may never have found otherwise. On the other hand, social media has been linked to destructive feelings like loneliness, narcissism, and low self-esteem. For the romanti…Read More
When you argue with your spouse, does it ever feel like Groundhog Day? Do you ever shake your head in disbelief, wondering why you're having this same disagreement yet again? Hitting the same marital roadblock over and over may relate to a perpetual problem between you and your spouse. Perpetual problems—which even healthy couples have—are difficult if not impossible to solve (though not …Read More
The introvert falls for the extrovert. The one who loves to save marries the one who loves to shop. The "glass half full" kind of person finds their "glass half empty" partner. Are these relationships destined to thrive—or doomed to fail? When Opposites Attract Magnets—sure. But as far as human relationships go, the idea that "opposites attract" seems to be little more than an interestin…Read More
Many people assume that for two partners to be healthy and thriving together, there needs to be a 50/50 split in terms of energy, love, and effort. I invite you to think about it as 100/100. In other words, both partners put in their best effort to commit to and nurture a healthy bond. Of course, your best efforts will fluctuate at times—and that's okay. Factors like stress at work or a poor nig…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
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
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
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