Not-So-Happy Mother’s Day for Stepmom

Mother’s Day is oftentimes one of the toughest days of the year for stepmoms and blended families. Here are a few tips to help make it a bit more bearable day.

Surviving Isolation with Your Partner

Couples are spending more time together in this time of isolation than ever before. For some, the additional time may be met with delight and lead to stronger connection. However for most, the constant togetherness (mixed with anxiety) may lead to frustration, irritability, or highlight the disconnection between partners.  We would … Read More

How Will Infidelity Affect Our Relationship – Part Two

The impact of infidelity on most relationships is very painful. Crisis typically ensues and the betrayed partner’s sense of emotional security and safety is shattered. To regain some stability, many betrayed, hurt and confused partners try to “piece” together what happened. In the moment, it feels like knowing EVERYTHING is … Read More

Misconceptions about Couples Therapy

Before deciding if couples therapy is right for you, it can be helpful to know what to expect. With that in mind, here are some common misconceptions, and what actually happens during a couples session. “If I go to couples therapy I’m just going to listen to my spouse complain … Read More

Ways to Communicate with Your High Conflict Partner When Splitting

Whether or not you’re married, splitting up can bring out the worst in anyone. Individuals who may struggle with a personality disorder or traits, though, can create frequent high conflict interactions. During this vulnerable time when there is a loss of self-esteem and control, you may become the target of … Read More

Is Stonewalling Wrecking Your Relationship?

Through his research, Dr. John Gottman found that distressed couples tend to use destructive behaviors in their conflict discussions, leading to destructive escalation. He calls these behaviors the four horsemen, after the Biblical four horsemen of the apocalypse. They include criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling.  In this blog, I’ll focus … Read More

Where Does Love Go Wrong for Couples?

I see many couples in my office describing their conflicts and interactions. The majority of these couples express appreciation for each other yet continue to have fractured connections. In moments of disconnection, couples describe their fear and confusion yet are still unable to make repairs. One of the most researched … Read More

How to Know if a Friendship is Becoming an Emotional Affair

In my work as a therapist, I see many couples dealing with infidelity. The question I get asked over and over is, “How did this happen?” The truth is that affairs typically don’t just happen. Platonic friendships and workplace relationships can slowly and unintentionally evolve into emotional affairs. An emotional … Read More

Is My Marriage Worth Saving?

When working with couples, a variety of concerns may surface- from unresolved conflicts, to broken trust and forgiveness, or navigating a spouse’s desire to leave the marriage. Moving on or starting over could look appealing compared to the work needed to rebuild the marriage. However, it’s common for these individuals … Read More