Forget the lists. Focus on what really works. As couples therapists, my colleagues and I have shared all kinds of advice over the years—“7 Rules for Love,” “10 Steps to a Happy Relationship,” “5 Secrets for Better Communication.” But let’s be honest—if those lists...
Healing doesn’t happen entirely in isolation. While it often starts as a solo journey—read books, go to therapy, journal, meditate—it inevitably impacts the relationships around us. We do the inner work, trying to make sense of our experiences without disturbing the...
Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck in repetitive emotional patterns—avoiding discomfort, suppressing feelings, or reacting automatically in ways that don’t serve you? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us struggle to be present with our emotions, often fearing...
You’ve probably heard the old rhyme: “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage.” It paints a picture of a perfect romance. But what if things take a wrong turn? What if that perfect love story turns out to be a trap? This is where...
Have you ever found yourself falling for someone who leaves you feeling unworthy, unseen, or deeply hurt? Maybe you’ve chased after love, believing that if you just tried a little harder, things would finally fall into place. But instead, you find yourself stuck in...
Every relationship faces challenges, but the key to a strong partnership is learning how to manage outside influences—what we’ll call “thirds”—together. Thirds can be anything that affects your relationship, like alcohol, work, friends, exes, electronics,...
Life Can Be Tough on Our Emotions. From feeling pressure to succeed to wanting strong relationships or a satisfying job, we deal with a lot. But instead of learning how to handle our emotions, society often teaches us to avoid them. We distract ourselves with things...
Problem-Solving vs. Happiness In many relationships, there’s often one partner who takes great pride in being the “problem solver.” Maybe that sounds familiar to you. I’ve worked with many couples like this, and I get it—I also believe in solving problems. But over...
Why Is It So Hard to Make Lasting Changes in My Relationship? If you’re working on improving your relationship, you’ve probably thought a lot about your goals and how motivated you are to change. Maybe you’ve tried to communicate better or handle conflicts...
What Does It Mean to “Hold Steady”? Holding steady is an essential skill in all types of relationships—whether romantic, familial, or friendships. It allows you to share your true feelings with others while being open to hearing theirs. But what exactly...
