Few things are as frustrating and painful as a broken relationship. It can feel like being trapped in quicksand. Sometimes the more you kick and flail, the faster you sink. How do you know when a relationship is worth saving versus when it’s time to move on? How do you recognize your issues versus your… CONTINUE
What to Expect in Couples Counseling
Have you often wondered what exactly goes on in couples counseling or if it works? Anxiety, fear, or the stigma of therapy can deter members of a relationship from seeking the help and guidance that could help in evaluating a relationship. However, an expert counselor can help a couple focus on challenges and turn them… CONTINUE
What Dropping Divorce Rates Could Mean for New Relationship Norms
by Meri Rule, LPC-S, LCDC You’ve probably come across the statement that half of all marriages end in divorce. According to the American Psychological Association “about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. The divorce rate for subsequent marriages is even higher.” However, recent research has revealed that divorce… CONTINUE
How Relationship Tension Can Trigger Depression
When you’re going through a breakup, or even an intense fight with your partner, it can feel like a catastrophe. Your work suffers, you’re moody, you’re appetite and sleep patterns are out of whack. You may feel a deep sense of loss or grief, as if you are losing a part of yourself. In short,… CONTINUE
Understanding Why Action is Important in a Relationship
In the decades I’ve been working with couples, the vast majority of initial couples sessions begin the same way. “We’ve been together X years, and we really love each other. When things are good, they’re really good–but when things are bad they’re really bad. Lately, small fights turns into big fights in a hurry, and… CONTINUE
Divorce – Understanding the Stats of Second and Third Marriages
Are you surprised to learn the following divorce statistics: First marriage: 50% divorce rate, second marriage: 67% divorce rate, third marriage: 74% divorce rate! Why do divorce rates increase rather than decrease after the first marriage? Perhaps you get more comfortable with divorce after you initially “break the taboo” by ending the first marriage. It’s easier to… CONTINUE
Relationship Quicksand: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Should I stay in this relationship or is it time to go? When you’re in a relationship and you ask yourself whether it is time to stay or go then you have encountered fundamental challenges in that relationship. Do these challenges indicate you simply need to work harder? Is it a sign that it’s time… CONTINUE
Creating Family Stunt Doubles in Adult Relationships
Romantic relationships are shaped by family history Sometimes in seemingly crazy-making ways. Suppose your mother is a talented cook, and you have fond childhood memories of spending time with her in the kitchen. It would make sense if, as an adult in a romantic relationship, you enjoy preparing meals for you and your partner. This… CONTINUE
Couples Counseling and Better Communication
Couples counseling teaches couples to communicate more effectively. Often, by the time I meet with couples counseling clients, they have been stuck in an exhausting pattern for some time. Arguments seem to come out of nowhere, and quickly go from 0 to 60. Talking things through only seems to make them worse. Neither person feels… CONTINUE
