Preparing for Love: How Singles Can Build Relationship Readiness
Will Goodwin , M.A
Many believe relationship skills only develop within relationships, but the truth is, single life offers a powerful opportunity to prepare for long-term commitment. Healthy, lasting partnerships require emotional awareness, communication tools, and resilience—skills that can be nurtured in a...
Wanting and Willing: Why Both Matter in Healthy Relationships
Will Goodwin , M.A
In every long-term relationship, there’s a subtle but important difference between wanting to do something for your partner and being willing to do it. Both play a crucial role in building trust, connection, and resilience over time. Wanting To...
Building “We-ness”: Fostering Partnership in Your Relationship
Will Goodwin , M.A
One of the strongest indicators of relationship satisfaction and resilience is what researchers call we-ness — a sense of shared identity, partnership, and emotional connection. Couples who cultivate this sense of togetherness tend to weather life’s inevitable challenges with...
Acceptance and Compliance: Navigating Relationship Differences
Will Goodwin , M.A
Every relationship encounters moments where one partner’s preferences, habits, or traits don’t perfectly align with the other’s. In these moments, partners often face a choice: Should I foster acceptance for this characteristic, or should I comply with their desire...
Hormones of Love and the “Three-Year Itch”
Alice D. Hoag , Ed.D.
Research shows that people get a surge of pleasant hormones early in a new romantic relationship: dopamine (the reward hormone of excitement and pleasure), oxytocin (the trust and attachment hormone), and norepinephrine (similar to dopamine and increases the sense...
Why Premarital Counseling?
Jessica Gross , M.A.
Research shows that 41% of first marriages, 60% of second marriages, and 73% of third marriages end in divorce. Premarital counseling can significantly improve your chances of marital success—studies indicate that it decreases the likelihood of divorce by 31%....
Winning Your Wife Back: Three Ways to Rebuild Connection with Confidence
Jason Howard , M.A.
If your marriage feels like it’s slipping or slipping away, your instinct might be to try harder —buy flowers, do more around the house, say “yes” to everything she asks. But the hard truth? Overcompensating with niceness can actually...
Start Now Building a Life-Long and Thriving Relationship
Jason Howard , M.A.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on your relationship and set meaningful goals. Whether you’re newly married or in a long-term partnership, the early stages of a relationship lay the groundwork for long-term...
4 Practical (and Fun) Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship This Holiday Season
Jason Howard , M.A.
The holidays bring all the joyful chaos: crowded schedules, too much food, and family members giving unsolicited advice. With all this added pressure, it’s easy to feel like you and your partner are more “survival teammates” than “seasoned soulmates.”...
Turning Toward: How Stressed Couples Can Support Each Other
Will Goodwin , M.A
In a world where stress is often a common household guest, managing our reactions and maintaining positive connections with our spouses can be challenging. However, learning to turn towards rather than away from each other during stressful times can...
Building Stronger Bonds with Your Partner: An Overview of the Gottman Method
Will Goodwin , M.A
The Gottman Method Couples Therapy is a scientifically-backed approach designed to improve the quality and longevity of relationships. Developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, this method is based on extensive research involving thousands of couples, offering tools and...
From Conflict to Connection: Using the S.T.O.P. Technique for Intimacy
Jason Howard , M.A.
Intimacy is a cornerstone of healthy, fulfilling relationships. One researched and effective tool for improving intimacy between partners is the “S.T.O.P.” technique, which focuses on mindfulness and emotional regulation. I often use this technique with clients who need a...
Trust and Commitment: The Cornerstones of a Satisfying Long-Term Relationship
Will Goodwin , M.A
In any long-term romantic relationship, trust and commitment are vital elements that contribute significantly to its success and satisfaction. These components create a stable and supportive environment where love can flourish. So, what makes these qualities so essential and...
Transform Your Relationship with the Gentle Start-Up
Will Goodwin , M.A
In any relationship, especially in a marriage, how we start a conversation can significantly impact its outcome. The Gentle Start-Up is a communication tool designed to help couples address issues without escalating conflict. Rooted in the research of Dr....
Finding a Place of Honesty, Authenticity, and Love
Can you tell your partner everything? When intimate relationships are built on a foundation of honesty, they can reach a level of profound authenticity and mutual understanding. But since the beginning of time, it seems, people have been prone...
Excuses, Excuses: How to Move from Defensiveness to Understanding in Relationships
Alice D. Hoag , Ed.D.
Fred: “What’s the big deal, anyway? Why do we have to keep rehashing this? Just let it go!” Joan: “No! I can’t just let it go. You hurt me and all you do is keep making excuses!” Fred: “But...
Healing from Divorce
Alice D. Hoag , Ed.D.
The old Greek poet named Menander said, “Time is the healer of all necessary evils.” More modern authors have altered the proverb, “Time heals all wounds.” Just because something is a proverb does not make it true. Some researchers...
Secrets Destroy
Alice D. Hoag , Ed.D.
There is a big difference between privacy and secrecy. Privacy is when someone goes into the bathroom, locks the door, and comes out 5 minutes later. Everyone knows what you’re doing, you just did it with no eyes watching,...
Toxic Relationships Part 4: How to Combat Emotional Abuse
For the final part of this series, we will discuss responses and ways to combat emotional abuse and gaslighting. As stated previously, the best-case scenario would be to remove yourself from any situation or relationship where this is occurring....
Toxic Relationships Part 3: Examples of Gaslighting in Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse comes in many forms. Often, it can be hard to recognize. It is worth noting that emotional abuse can occur at any time, around friends, family, or in private. It is important to be able to recognize...