Causes of Divorce
Couples Therapy for Empty Nesters
Pursuing couples therapy as an empty nester can be an uncomfortable experience. You and your spouse might wonder why things are so challenging! After all, the kids have left the house, and now you have more time together. Shouldn’t things be easier now? Why do they seem so much harder? Today, you will read about…
Read MoreThe Five Couples You Meet in Therapy: Hostile Couples
The Five Couples You Meet in Therapy, Part 4: Hostile Couples So far, you have learned about three common “types” of couples that seek therapy: conflict avoiders, volatile couples, and validating couples. These types are not all-encompassing. But learning about these common types of couples can help you understand why you and your spouse can…
Read MoreCouples Therapy: Avoiding Criticism
Couples Therapy: Criticism If you are familiar with the world of couples therapy, you may have heard of John Gottman’s “Four Horsemen”. The Four Horsemen were trends that Gottman noticed in the couples he studied. And these four trends tend to be able to predict if a couple will stay together or break up. The…
Read MoreRelationship Counseling: Reframing Conflict
Relationship Counseling: A New Way to Look at Conflict One of the biggest topics you will talk about in relationship counseling is conflict with your partner and how you can resolve it. Conflict resolution might seem confusing or difficult to understand. You and your partner have your own perspectives, and you may disagree about where…
Read MoreMarriage Counseling Myths: “You Complete Me”
Debunking Marriage Myths: “You Are My Better Half/ You Complete Me” As you attend marriage counseling with your spouse, you will work on skills that improve your trust and appreciation for each other. It is important to find significance in the role you each play in each other’s lives. Well-meaning people will say this means…
Read MoreMarriage Counseling: The Anatomy Of An Apology
If you are in a marriage relationship, or any other relationship, you will need to know the anatomy of an apology. Couples in marriage counseling often learn that it’s more than simply saying ‘I’m sorry’. In fact, I often help couples I am working with to not use those words when trying to apologize. It…
Read MoreMarriage Counseling: Team Building
Marriage Counseling: Team Building Over the course of your marriage, you and your partner will work together and form a team. As a team, it is important for you to learn how to work together effectively. This sounds simple, but you have probably noticed by now that it is easier said than done! Thankfully, your…
Read MoreMarriage Myth: “Good Marriages Come Naturally”
Marriage Counseling and Marriage Myths If you are attending marriage counseling, you may have noticed that during your life you have been told lots of marriage myths (Related Article: Marriage Counseling Myths: “Happy Couples Never Argue”). A common misconception is that good marriages just fall right into place. Your mom, grandma, uncle, neighbor, etc has probably…
Read MoreMarriage Counseling Myths: “Happy Couples Never Argue”
Marriage Counseling Helps You Debunk Marriage Myths Your marriage counselor will likely spend some time in your counseling sessions identifying, discussing, and debunking common “marriage myths” in your relationship. You have likely heard lots of common adages about what makes a good marriage. People in your life will have many things to say about how…
Read MoreMarriage Counseling: How to Apologize
Marriage Counseling Helps You Give Better Apologies As you attend marriage counseling, you will likely find that you receive and give many apologies to your spouse. This isn’t a bad thing; we all make mistakes, and in your relationship you may have both made mistakes without realizing it. As you work on building better communication…
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