How Jen and Derek Turned Things Around—and Why You Can Too Feeling alone in your relationship Jen and Derek had been married for sixteen years and were raising two kids. But over the last four years, Jen began to feel more and more alone—even though she wasn’t...
How secure relationships can power your life and bring out the best in you and your partner Love that lifts you up Healthy, secure relationships give us something special: energy. Not just the kind that gets you out of bed, but a deep, lasting strength that carries...
The important difference between anxiety and fear Understanding emotions can be confusing, especially when fear and anxiety feel so similar. But they are actually very different, and knowing the difference can help us feel better and respond kindlier to ourselves....
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...
