Years ago I watched a video series called Guardrails by renown pastor and author, Andy Stanley. The idea was simple: set up guardrails, or boundaries, for your relationship so that you're not ever even close to the edge of being unfaithful to your partner. The execution, however, is not so simple. ...read more
March Awareness Month
If you google March Awareness Month/Week, you will discover a plethora of things to be aware of! It’s Red Cross Month, Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Brain Injury Awareness Month to name a few. But then if you scroll down, you will find a division of Awareness Weeks of March. Did ...read more
Fighting Fairly
If you are a sibling, have had a good friend, or ever been in junior high, you know all about insults. You know when someone insults you, you insult them right back. And not just any insult. An insult against all insults. You try to one-up their insult. Then they try to respond with an even greater ...read more
Do Kids Kill Marriages?
In my experience as a marriage and family therapist, few things rock a relationship like having a child together. All of a sudden, you're no longer free to do as you please, when you please, and how you please. For many couples, one or both parents start to prioritize the children over the marriage. ...read more
Let’s Face It
Face/Off was a movie made in 1997 starring Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. I remember being both mesmerized and freaked out at how someone’s face (Nicolas Cage) could be transplanted onto someone else’s face (John Travolta) and vice versa, along with vocal training, to impersonate one another. They ...read more
Being a Man in a 2019 Relationship
I can't speak for the rest of the men out there, but growing up I heard all kinds of phrases such as "be a man," "man up", and "act like a man." Typically this meant to be tough, act like things didn't hurt, don't cry, don't act like a girl, and don't show emotions. Fast forward to 2019 and the ...read more
Infidelity – Clouded By Myth
According to couples therapists, infidelity is the second most difficult relationship problem, surpassed only by domestic violence. Most of the time, the other partner gets blindsided in the knowledge about their partner’s affair. Affairs do not have to be sexual for there to be infidelity. ...read more
What are you habits? Part 1, Supporting vs Criticizing
What comes to mind when you think of the word “habit”? Running? Reading? Whistling? Clinking your spoon on a coffee cup? (thank you I Love Lucy for those two examples). There are many habits we partake in, but the habits of this blog have to do with communication and relationships. Of these two ...read more
Meet Me on The 7th Floor: Getting Some Understanding Through Changing Your Perspective
Have you ever wondered what it is like for someone on the 5th floor of a building versus someone on the 9th floor? Can you see more, can you see less, can you see what I see? Perspective is a critical item in understanding. Anything that happens in the world lacks meaning until we decide to give ...read more
Constantly Arguing?
Resolving conflict in any relationship can be complicated and overwhelming, but the truth is all couples argue. But, I am here to tell you it’s not a lack of arguing that makes a successful relationship. It is more about how partners argue that plays an important role in long-term relationship ...read more