Okay, so you’ve done it enough. You’ve been to Walt Disney World more times than you can count and you swore that now that the kids are grown, you’d never go back again. You’ve had enough of Mickey’s annoying voice, parents who drag their screaming, unwilling 3-year-olds on the Haunted Mansion ride, that nauseating Small World song that just plays over […]
Being critical of your spouse can actually lead you onto a short path to divorce. The Gottman Relationship Institute has done years of research on ways to make relationships healthier and they report that criticism is one of the biggest problems in relationships. It appears that husbands who feel criticized by their wives are especially […]
There’s a lot of misconception about money and marriage. It can certainly be a source of contention for many couples. Getting a handle on your finances and working together as a team can make a big difference in the health of your marriage. Here are some of the biggest myths about money that should be […]
It’s possible to get into the habit of having bad habits! As strange as that sounds, it can be easy to sink into a rut. Bad habits tend to come in bunches and it can be hard to get out of them. However, changing your bad habits can help you change your marriage. How Bad […]
When your spouse’s health starts to decline, it can be very difficult for the both of you. Whether your spouse has developed a chronic illness or disability early in life or it is just part of the normal aging process, declining health will greatly impact your relationship. There are some steps you can take to […]
Building trust takes time; however, losing trust only takes an instant. It is important to work on continually building trust in the marriage in order to have a healthy, happy relationship. If you’ve ever lost trust, re-building it takes time and energy. Learn how to build lasting trust in your relationship. 1. Spend Quality Time Together […]
If you want to improve your marriage, you don’t necessarily need to sit down and have lengthy conversations about what is working and what isn’t. In fact, just the thought of discussing relationship troubles can make many people want to run for the hills. The good news is, you don’t necessarily need to hash out everything. […]
People behave differently depending on whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with their marriage. The interactions between a couple can improve the marriage or contribute to further dissatisfaction. Couples who are happy with their marriage focus on the positive. If nine good things occurred between them, and one bad thing, they’ll focus on the good. […]
Communication is said to be key to marriage. However, many couples aren’t sure what sorts of communication mistakes they make and can’t pinpoint just where they’ve gone wrong. Just because you are talking doesn’t mean you are communicating well. And just because you aren’t talking doesn’t mean you aren’t communicating. Effective communication means that both partners are able to openly discuss their thoughts and feelings while also […]
We’ve all met that couple who bickers constantly. It’s uncomfortable to be around. But worse yet, it’s unhealthy for their marriage. When couples are constantly bickering, the negative interactions take a serious toll on the relationship. When couples are always arguing, there’s little room for gratitude, praise, and pleasant interactions. If you and your spouse have […]
Not all marriages survive an affair. Whether the affair was emotional or sexual, it can be extremely damaging to the relationship. Rebuilding trust is an essential component to overcoming an affair. Discovering your spouse has cheated can be traumatic. This trauma can make a person very hesitant to ever trust their spouse again. Successfully rebuilding […]
Emotional intimacy is important part of keeping a marriage healthy. When a couple increases their intimacy, they often find their communication improves and their conflict decreases. It’s never too late to start trying to work on your intimacy. Follow these strategies to help improve the intimacy in your marriage. Schedule a Date Night Date nights […]
I see lots of marital problems in my office on a daily basis. Sometimes people come in for couples counseling. At other times, people come in for treatment of depression, anxiety or some other condition and their marriage becomes a frequent topic of discussion. Most of the marital problems that come into my office are […]
It’s funny how the holidays change over time. During childhood, it’s usually about fun holiday traditions and of course, the presents. However, when you become an adult, the added responsibilities of the holidays can sometimes be quite stressful for families. There are several potential sources of stress for couples during the holiday season. The holidays […]
Life is busy. And people are often doing those things that keep them busy rather than reflecting on their life and marriage. Whether they are thinking about what happened in the past, what’s happening today, or what is likely happening tomorrow, most people don’t spend much time reflecting on the overall picture of life. It […]
Putting your spouse’s needs first can be a wonderful thing. It can show your desire to be loving and unselfish. It can really make a couple grow closer together. However, giving too much can be a slippery slope. When people give all the time without caring for their own needs, it can be damaging to […]
Sometimes, avoiding conflict can become more problematic than dealing with the problem head-on. However, some people choose to avoid conflict for a variety of reasons. Over time, this can lead to lots of marital problems. Reasons People Avoid Conflict Sometimes people avoid conflict out of fear. They don’t want to upset their spouse. Perhaps they […]
There’s a saying that says “love means never having to say sorry.” That philosophy certainly isn’t based on conventional wisdom. It’s a fact that there will be times you will hurt your spouse’s feelings and your spouse is bound to hurt yours. Does loving your spouse mean you shouldn’t apologize for doing something hurtful? Perhaps because you […]
Do you ever feel like you are being stretched too thin and as a result you don’t have time to focus on your marriage? If so, it can cause your relationship to slowly dissipate and can lead to a lot of marital problems. Devoting time and energy to your relationship is necessary to grow together […]
Boundaries within the marriage are very important to the relationship. Determining what should be kept private between the couple versus what is told to the outside world makes a big impact. Finances are an issue that some people prefer to remain very private about, while other people don’t mind sharing some personal financial information. For […]
