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Dr. Dana McNeil

Founder, The Relationship Place Certified Gottman Therapist Licenses: California: LMFT #99008 | Texas: LMFT #205614 Dana is a gifted, compassionate, and practical therapist. She has achieved the highest level of training possible in the Gottman Method of couples therapy and has special interests in working with all clients, including those who live out-of-the-ordinary lives or have alternative relationships.

Feeling Disconnected? Here are 3 Ways to Reconnect

Thanks to Hollywood, many couples have been led to believe the secret to reconnecting and rekindling the passion is through a Caribbean cruise, sports cars, or jewelry. But the reality is, once there’s a disconnect between partners, gifts and vacations simply won’t cut it. It may seem counterintuitive, but love is mended not through grandiose deeds, but through small acts of kindness; through the seemingly micro-moments. It is in these moments when we have a […]

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3 Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt

Self-doubt can be debilitating. It can hold you back from pursuing your dreams and living the life you really want. Self-doubt can also make it hard to complete necessary daily tasks and make simple decisions. The good news is, it is possible to overcome self-doubt and quiet that negative self-talk. Here’s how: 1. Take Charge Immediately When inner doubts start to creep up, many people let them spin out of control and fully take over. Once this happens,

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3 Emotional Challenges of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom — And How to Overcome Them!

Being a stay-at-home mom can be very rewarding, but also incredibly challenging. There’s the guilt about not bringing home a paycheck combined with, at times, significant loneliness. If you’ve ever felt joy when a salesman shows up unannounced at your front door, you know what I’m talking about! OMG! An adult to talk to during the day! (Right? lol). Here are three emotional challenges that come along with being a stay-at-home mom and how you

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Post-Baby Disconnect? 3 Ways to Stay More Connected After Having a Baby

No matter how many times they were warned, few new parents are prepared for the life-changing event of the birth of their first child. No more sleeping in on Saturday, then heading to your favorite restaurant for brunch with friends. These leisurely activities are replaced with sleepless nights and endless diaper changes. It’s no surprise then that many couples feel a disconnect after the birth of their first child. This is the time when focus

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Why Timing is Everything When it Comes to Marriage Counseling

Seeking help from a marriage counselor is not unlike seeking help from a mechanic. It makes little sense to take your car into the shop a month after it started making a horrific noise. By that time, too much damage may have been done and your engine may be beyond repair. By the same token, the effectiveness of marriage counseling is directly related not only to the willingness and motivation of both parties to put in the

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Why Compliments Don't Boost Self Esteem

When a loved one is suffering from low self-esteem, it’s hard to know what to say. Naturally you want them to see themselves as you see them. You want them to feel joyful about the reality of who they are, not be mired down in the falsities they insist are truths. In the past, you may have tried showering them with compliments, only to wonder why they never believed a word you said. People with low self-esteem have strong beliefs about

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Creative Ideas for Improving Communication in Your Relationship

Whether conducted in the United States or far off lands, many surveys find the number one reason for divorce is poor communication. Beyond having different communication styles, issues often arise when both partners are not comfortable talking about their feelings. The good news is, talking about feelings is not the only, or even necessarily the best, way for couples to maintain a happy and healthy relationship. Here are some ideas to improve communication in your own

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Hedging Your Bets When it Comes to Gambling?

Living in San Diego, many of us like to hit one of the local Indian gaming casinos every once in a while to try outsmarting lady luck playing a winning hand of 21. Many of us look forward to attending opening day in Del Mar in our jaunty hats with the hopes of winning an extra couple of bucks by hitting a long shot. These once-in-a-while experiences usually represent a fun way to spend an

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Experiencing New Firsts – Making New Memories

My partner and I are taking our first trip to Hawaii this week.  The trip is being sponsored by his employer, and they are paying the bulk of our expenses – even better!  Neither one of us has ever been to Hawaii, and we’re excited about the opportunity to share another “first” together.  We have had many “firsts,” including our first date, our first Fall foliage tour, our first vacation, our first anniversary…and the list

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