Couples can actually learn a few valuable tricks from their favorite teams. According to marriage researcher, John Gottman, PhD., happy couples have a few things in common: They have friendship and admiration, they have each other’s back, they handle conflict well, and they have a sense of “we-ness”. With these characteristics, they form a pretty strong team that can handle life’s toughest challenges.
Fighting Fair
All healthy relationships encounter conflict. Learning to deal with conflict in a healthy way is paramount to keeping relationships strong.
For The Moments When Life Disappoints
Life is definitely not fair. This is a well-known fact. You probably heard an adult tell you this when you were a kid. Things very often do not turn out the way we planned or hoped. Often times, we must develop an alternate plan or goals for ourselves.
Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?
A common problem with married couples that become stuck in escalating conflicts is that they are unable to hear each other in the moment.
A Lesson In The Art Of Apologizing
Apologizing effectively in relationships is an art form. When we apologize poorly, it can create barriers that keep us from making repairs.
A Lesson In The Art Of Complaining
One common complaint is when an issue comes up, and the complaining becomes about all the other mistakes and hurts that you have caused.
Red Flags for Intimate Partner Violence
There are some red flags that can be important to be aware of and notice if you or a loved one are experiencing intimate partner violence.
Healthy Relationships with Dating Apps
Can true love be found through online dating? Yes No Maybe All of the above—This is the answer For some, online dating and dating apps will be a part of your love story (it’s part of mine). For others, this dating world may be full of cringe-worthy stories (I have … Read More
Courage: From Bruce Wayne to John Wayne
What do you think of when you think of courage? I used to think about the main characters in my favorite stories as a kid; Jackie Robinson, Doc Holliday (the Val Kilmer version) and Batman. To 7-year old me, these guys seemed absolutely fearless, and that’s what courage meant to … Read More
Experiencing Positive Change in Your Relationships
As a marriage and family therapist, the biggest hurdle that I see individuals and couples face in realizing the goals for their relationships is that they keep doing what they have been doing, in spite of having learned a better way. So, as the Nike ad says, “Just do it.” … Read More
