Relationships

5 Ways to Revitalize Your Relationship Routine
February 5, 2021

With the beginning of a new year well underway and the somewhat cliché mantra of “New year, new you!” still ringing in the air, many of us are starting to look around and wonder what has really changed. The...

How Conflict Can Create Connection
January 20, 2021

Conflict is inevitable in relationships. This has been especially true over the past year as couples have tried to navigate a national pandemic, sheltering at home, working remotely while guiding children through virtual learning, job losses and financial strain,...

3 Tips to Listen to Your Spouse Better
January 20, 2021

You never listen to me! Have you ever heard that statement from your spouse in the middle of a heated argument? Are the two of you constantly arguing about the same things all the time? Want to know how...

New Year, Same High Expectations
January 1, 2021

At the end of every year, we can be sure that a new year is coming soon. We can also be sure that talk of resolutions will be coming as well. New Year’s resolutions can provide an exciting change....

Family Connection
December 9, 2020

In today’s society, it is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of life. There can be so many “to-do’s” that distract us from being with each other and truly connecting. You may ask yourself, “How can...

Building Habits of Connection into Your Marriage
October 2, 2020

All throughout our lives we are coached on the subject of establishing good and healthy habits for ourselves like: making our bed, brushing our teeth, eating well. But even with all that coaching and effort, keeping up with a...

Qualities in a Healthy Relationship
October 2, 2020

We all have different experiences with relationships throughout our lives. They can range from healthy to unhealthy to even abusive in some cases. Sometimes when our relationship history has more unhealthy and abusive moments rather than healthy, it can...

The Path to Reconciliation
August 18, 2020

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.” These words are often cited as facilitating the process of forgiveness. While helpful, they are woefully inadequate when attempting a reconciliation in the face of serious wounding and betrayal, such as...

Summer Break and Covid-19
June 29, 2020

One of the most exciting parts of the year is here for students. Summer! Going to camp, hanging out with friends, and family trips are just a few of the things that Summer brings. However, our world has completely...

Planted Not Buried: The Ultimate Reframe
June 24, 2020

At this point in time many people are feeling as if our “new normal” is permanent. Information overload continues and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with what’s true and what’s not true. COVID-19 has led to job...

Have you ever wondered “Is my child a bully?” or “Is bullying behavior affecting my child?”
June 22, 2020

Parents, teachers and counselors are noticing the increase of bullying in culture today. It is important to understand that both kids who are bullied and who bully others are at risk for serious and lasting emotional problems if the...

Resources to Discuss Race With Your Child
June 9, 2020

At what age is it appropriate to start talking to your kids about race and racism? According to the educators and counselors, it is never too early to start the conversation. Here are 10 Tips For Talking & Teaching...

Stonewalling
June 3, 2020

We have all been there when arguing with our partner, it typically occurs at the end of the whole fiasco… Blank facial expressions, silent stares, or walking out of the room are all examples of stonewalling. The term stonewalling...

Defensiveness
May 29, 2020

Many times when we get into arguments, one person in the relationship criticizes or is contemptuous, which often leads to the other partner feeling attacked. When someone is feeling attacked they get defensive or shuts down emotionally. Most of...

Corroding Relationships with Contemptment
May 27, 2020

Another act besides criticizing that negatively impacts relationships is contemptment. This behavior is also known as disrespect or coming from a place of superiority. This is the biggest indicator of divorce according to Gottman’s research. Couples who are contemptuous...

Distracting from Racing Thoughts
May 20, 2020

We have all experienced racing thoughts that seem uncontrollable or impossible to untangle. Many times it can be helpful to reframe the thought or return to a calming mantra to feel grounded. These skills can work for many situations,...

Criticism vs. Complaint
May 18, 2020

In the past two months, we have been in close quarters with our partners and noticed some cute and some not so cute habits of theirs… Or maybe things were rocky before sheltering in place, and now those issues...

Could You Get PTSD from Your Pandemic Experience? The Long-Term Mental Health Effects of Coronavirus
May 5, 2020

Written By: Cory Stieg @CORYSTIEG Experiencing intense flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, anger, and fear? In the face of a traumatic event like the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s common to feel this way. While many people associate post-traumatic stress disorder with something like war, it’s a chronic...

Understanding Ecotherapy
April 28, 2020

  Can digging in the dirt and soaking up sun rays improve your mental health and wellbeing? According to Ecotherapy, the answer is YES! Ecotherapy is an activity or program used to improve health by connecting with nature. It...

Lockdown is the World’s Biggest Psychological Experiment – and We Will Pay the Price
April 27, 2020

Dr. Elke Van Hoof Professor, Health Psychology and Primary Care Psychology Vrije Universiteit Brussel April 09, 2020 With some 2.6 billion people around the world in some kind of lockdown, we are conducting arguably the largest psychological experiment ever;...