managing conflict in relationships

  1. New Year Relationship Reboot 2022: 5 Inspiring Couple Goals to Help Your Marriage Thrive This Year

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    I don't know about you, but I actually really like New Years resolutions.  Yes, they get a bad rap. We see headline after headline about the dismal follow-through that people seem to have around these New Year, New Me commitments—for instance, that fewer than 8% of people actually stick to their goals (apparently) or that most people end up giving up on their aims before the end of January—a…Read More

  2. Breaking Free From Damaging Relationship Patterns With The One You Love

    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

  3. Feeling Angry at Your Spouse—Let’s Talk About It

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    Do you ever get angry at your spouse? For most of us, the answer is a resounding yes. We're human, after all, and anger is a normal human emotion. But while feeling angry isn't inherently bad, anger can have a negative impact on your marriage if it's not dealt with well. When You're Angry and You Know It: Why it's Normal and What To Do (And NOT Do) About It If you have this idea that healthy c…Read More

  4. How to Set (and Respect) Boundaries With Your Spouse

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    Here's a simple truth: All healthy relationships have healthy boundaries.  You see, boundaries aren't restricting or limiting. Boundaries provide the freedom to express your needs and values while also honoring the needs and values of your partner. Setting boundaries is: The essential antidote to codependency A prerequisite for emotional well-being A learnable skill that determines the succe…Read More

  5. How To Know If You’ve Found The One

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    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

  6. Finding Forgiveness For Your Spouse

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    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

  7. Is Alcohol Impacting Your Relationship?

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    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

  8. Marriage Has No Room For Selfishness

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    "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

  9. How to Cope When External Stressors Take A Toll On Our Relationships

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    Living and providing expert couples therapy in my hometown of Fort Lauderdale, we had a big scare this past weekend when Hurricane Irma threatened to hit us directly as a monster Category 4 storm. At the very last minute however, our beautiful coast was spared and we received minimal damage. As grateful as I am that my home and city were saved, the Florida Keys were not as lucky. They felt a direc…Read More

  10. A Couple’s Satisfaction After Kids Is Determined By These Two Things (According to Research)

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    Even for the most well prepared couples, having kids is a life-changing experience. Becoming parents is extremely gratifying, yet comes with a whole set of unpredictable twists and turns along the way. Research from the Gottman Institute on Bringing Baby Home found that the majority of couples (67% in fact) report a drop in relationship satisfaction for up to three years after the birth of a baby.…Read More