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Dr. Dana McNeil

Dana is a gifted, compassionate, and practical therapist and the founder of The Relationship Place. Dana has achieved the highest level of training possible in the Gottman Method of couples therapy. She has special interests in working with all clients, including those who live out-of-the-ordinary lives or have alternative relationships.

how to deal with narcissistic parents

How to Deal With A Narcissistic Parent

Family Therapy /

Acceptance Emotionally healthy children grow up with the need to develop their internal sense of self and should learn to develop autonomy with parents who are emotionally available enough to foster these traits in a warm and supportive environment. Unfortunately, not all parents are equipped to help their children learn to develop those skills for themselves, especially if the parent possess a personality disorder such as narcissism. Some parents with narcissistic personality disorder can miss […]

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how to rebuild trust after cheating

How You Can Rebuild Trust In Your Marriage After Cheating

Relationship /

There’s no easy way to talk about cheating and no magic method to rebuild trust. Infidelity can leave a betrayed partner feeling more than just hurt. It can create the kind of uncertainty and anger that makes them wonder if the relationship is even worth saving. The good news for couples who want a rebuild the relationship is that it’s still possible. The work involved won’t look the same for both partners. As the one

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how to heal from a toxic relationship

9 Tips On How To Heal From A Toxic Relationship

Relationship /

Leaving a toxic relationship is a brave step that everyone deserves the freedom to take. But breaking up comes with stress, anxiety, and emotions that need to be processed. That’s true even after a healthy relationship. Bouncing back takes time, but there are ways to support your journey throughout. Ways how to heal from a toxic relationship aren’t the same for everyone. It’s a process unique to your experiences and situation. That said, toxic partners

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Pheromones

Pheromones – What are They and What Role Do They Play in Relationships?

Relationship /

What are Pheromones? Think of pheromones as operating in a way similar to the way hormones work, except that they work outside of the body versus internally. Pheromones facilitate biological functions through smell and can help generate more pep in the step of the receiver’s sexual drive. One of the most powerful functions of a pheromone is its ability to ensure that the human race and the animal kingdom remain alive and kicking. Pheromones act

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Are Rough Patches in Relationships Normal?

Relationship /

This piece was originally published on Gottman.com and is republished here with permission from the Gottman Institute. You and your partner are in a tough place. You have a hard time feeling connected and don’t feel understood. You worry if this is the beginning of the end of the relationship. You fantasize about what life might be like starting over, being single, and what dating someone new might be like. Maybe you even started searching for divorce

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how to deal with polyamory

How To Proceed With Polyamory? 20 Questions To Ask Yourself

Relationship /

Polyamory has been around as long as societies have existed. That’s because every romantic relationship throughout history, including monogamy, was shaped by cultural values. Monogamy may seem like the default in today’s society, but it’s overrepresented.  According to US Census reports, 1 in 5 adults say they’ve engaged in consensual non-monogamy (CNM) at some point. If you’re considering going poly or struggling with an aspect of how to proceed with polyamory, these sets of questions

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communication exercises for couples therapy

Therapist-Recommended Communication Exercises For Couples

Couples Counseling /

Conflicts can help us gauge the health of a relationship. Note that the presence of conflict isn’t a fatal sign on its own. We can learn more from how couples deal with conflict, and how partners treat each other as individuals.  Exercising good communication skills with your partner is necessary to keep a strong and healthy relationship. This also helps determine if an argument pulls a couple apart or brings them closer together. That’s why

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what women want in a relationship

7 Ways To Understand What Women Want In A Relationship

Issues for Women /

A question that has puzzled men for centuries: What do women really want in a relationship? Gender differences can leave men completely clueless on answering this question. In celebration of International Women’s Day, we discuss how to find the right answers in understanding what women want in a relationship, particularly from their male partners. Every woman is a mystery of her own, and it’s important for men to familiarize themselves with it in order to

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Breadcrumbing

Are you Being Breadcrumbed? 5 Signals to Watch Out For

Relationship /

What is breadcrumbing in relationships? Breadcrumbing is a behavior in which one partner essentially gives the other partner just enough energy, time, attention, affection, or words of affirmation that provide some of the elements of being in a romantic relationship. However, the other partner is left still wanting. The partner who is on the receiving end may often feel they are being too needy or insecure because they feel mixed messages. They cognitively know they

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what therapists think about online vs in-person therapy

Online vs. In-Person Therapy: Which Is Best For Couples?

Couples Counseling /

Lockdowns have caused people to stay at home longer than usual. While it did bring couples together physically, it may have also caused mental, emotional, and sometimes, physical stress to their relationship. Good thing couple’s therapy can now happen online. While the pandemic limited face-to-face interactions, everybody turned to virtual therapy and found the next best alternative. But when everything is slowly getting back to normal, should you also get back to your therapist’s office

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