We are living in stressful times. Anxiety, frustration, and fear are commonplace. Gratitude is a powerful antidote to negative emotions, and it helps us combat the negative thought train. Eight weeks of gratitude practice can begin to change your brain patterns and increase empathy and happiness…

Our beliefs about relationships have a massive impact on the success of our relationships. Faulty assumptions can cause much frustration and disappointment. Sometimes beliefs that seem to be reasonable or even positive can be detrimental because they …

As human beings, we are surprisingly adaptable. A new study has found that “Our psychological immune system is so effective that even though we have an ongoing, persisting stressor, we start to fix ourselves almost immediately “ We can be knocked for a loop when stress, such as a pandemic, hits us; however ...

We celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary this summer. We were married at 18 and 20 years of age, so we had a lot of growing up to do. Not that we were aware of that at the time. Over the years, we have had our share of struggles, but we have also found ways to keep falling in love over and over again. I want to share….

In our relationships, when we take the challenge to face up to and work to remove obstacles that may be preventing closeness and harmony, we may be surprised to find hidden treasures. With persistent and loving efforts, we can frequently discover ways to …

Today, the world is feeling a little out of control, as we are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions, natural disasters, and an economic decline. Focusing on controlling what we can control…

We frequently eat for reasons other than hunger. And the current Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted our schedules and created uncertainty. As our stress has increased, we may find ourselves eating more or eating more of the wrong kinds of food…

It may seem a bit contradictory to say that loving yourself will improve your marriage or relationships. Shouldn’t I be suggesting instead to be more loving toward others?

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread world-wide. There is great uncertainty and anxiety is increasing. These are challenging times, taking care of your mental health and finding peace (even moments of peace) will strengthen your immune system and make you more resilient. Below are several suggestions to help …

Have you reached an impasse in your relationship? Does it feel like you are stuck in negative patterns of relating? Are you questioning whether you chose the right person? Remember, there is so much more to creating an amazing relationship than choosing each other….

Even soul mates need to take care of their relationship so that they do not end up with the 'I love you, but...' syndrome. Maintaining intimacy takes time, thoughtfulness, and positive action. Creating excellent relationship-enhancing habits, like …

What comes to mind when you think of New Year's Resolutions? Common resolutions include improving fitness, weight loss, and increasing financial abundance. Perhaps an overlooked goal is that of improving our mental health. Sound mental health is a resolution worthy undertaking, and improved mental health brings all our goals within reach. Below are some recommendations to help you improve your self-care and self-compassion and regain your sense of balance.

A wise Chinese proverb says, "Dig the well before you are thirsty." There is great wisdom in preparing for the inevitable. The time to dig a well is not when you are weak and dying of thirst. Perhaps the time to strengthen your relationship is when things are still somewhat satisfactory. It may seem overly obvious, but couples who come for counseling while they still like each other have a much higher chance of staying together in a fulfilling relationship.

Connection is to relationships what oxygen is to living. Just as we would not survive for long without oxygen, relationships will wither and die from a lack of connection. Connecting with your partner lays the foundation for any intimacy, including sexual intimacy…

Just a few minutes to rate the quality of your relationship. You might also consider using this quiz as the beginning of a conversation (or several conversations) about how you would like your relationship to be.

Faulty thinking can take the joy out of living. People’s minds can play tricks on them, leading them to view the world as if through dark sunglasses. The misery an individual is experiencing is probably proportional to the extent of their faulty thinking habits. Therapy is often focused on changing habitual thought patterns so that they run along more positive, life enhancing tracks.

Couples have issues with communication, trust, difficulty managing their emotions, and differences in values, expectations, and priorities. And these are just a few of the possible problems. However, there is one indicator that can predict, with incredible accuracy, the demise of your relationship. This predictor involves either or both of you acting with a particular attitude or stance.  

Emotional resilience is what allows us to bounce back after a difficult time. Everyone finds ways to cope with their own particular set of problems. Human beings are incredibly adaptable. However, some coping strategies are more destructive than others.

The benefits of exercise extend beyond improving physical health. Exercise can help relieve anxiety and burn off stress. It can help lift depression. It can encourage a more positive outlook and boost self-esteem. Even 10 minutes of walking a day can help.

Scientific evidence suggests that our brain has a built-in negativity bias. This tendency is part of what has allowed us to survive over millions of years. Our survival depended on constant vigilance to detect danger. However, noticing the good must become a practice if we want to rewire our brain for success in our relationship.