The number one issue I hear about in couples counseling is poor communication. This can mean many different things. I would like to talk about communication regarding understanding perspective. When a couple argues they often complain that the other is not listening to them. They keep saying the same thing over and over and their […]
Category: Communication
The Secret of Relationship Success
Have you ever noticed when a couple is celebrating a milestone anniversary like their 50th, they get asked what is the secret to a long, successful relationship? We all want to know what is the silver bullet to being happy in our relationships. I’m here to break the news that there is no “secret.” The […]
Spring Has Sprung
Spring is a time of renewal, regrowth and hope. After a long winter of cold, gray days, we look forward to the warmer temperatures and signs of spring on tress and in flowers. Often it is a time to clean and de-clutter our houses. It can also be a time to clean and de-clutter ourselves […]
We-ness or Me-ness
When it comes to relationships, it is important to think of yourself as being on a team. The word relationship means “the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected” (Oxford Languages). So being on a team means there is another person we need to […]
What Are Friends For?
Friendship is important in intimacy because friendship, if you think about it, is the building block of our lives. We get to know people and become good friends with someone, whether it’s in a romantic relationship or even a platonic friendship, by establishing a sense of intimacy. You might wonder how do we build that […]
Chicken Little vs. Dr. Spock
Imagine Chicken Little and Dr. Spock running into one another while walking down the street. Chicken Little would be running circles around Spock crying “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Spock would look at Chicken Little puzzled and reply in his Vulcan manner, “Chicken Little, it is not scientifically possible for the sky […]
Managing Anxiety
With the Coronavirus has come a lot of fear and worry. The news is full of stories in the US and throughout the world about the havoc it is causing. In Ohio, like other states, we have been ordered to stay at home, at least until the beginning of April. No school, no work outside […]
I Believe
I believe I am a good person. I believe I am a bad person. I believe I am smart. I believe I am dumb. I believe I am pretty. I believe I am ugly. What do you believe about yourself, and why it matters. Have you ever slowed yourself down long enough to really […]
To Be Right or To Be Wrong – Is that Really the Question?
Let’s face it, we all enjoy being right, right?! So, what is so wrong with that? The simple answer is nothing is wrong with wanting to be right. The problem comes into play when we get the outcome of being right and we don’t like that outcome. Remember, right is a relative term. When […]
Do I Hear You Now?
In my practice I often hear couples complain about having the same conversations over and over. The same things get repeated and both are left feeling frustrated and unheard. This leads to emotional disconnect. Usually the reason for this is that both are focused on what they have to say, not on what the other […]