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Relationship

Here are some resources for those seeking information on relationships.

happy holiday couple

Setting Boundaries for Happy Couple Holidays

Couples Counseling, Holiday, Relationship /

The holidays can be one of the most emotionally charged times of the year for couples. Families have long-held traditions, expectations, and opinions about how things “should” be done — and many newly married or long-term couples find themselves caught in the middle. Maybe one partner’s family expects everyone home for Christmas morning, while the other insists on the big dinner with their side that same evening. You love both families and want to please […]

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attuned couple

How Presence Turns Conflict into Connection

Couples Counseling, Relationship /

“Presence is the opposite of stonewalling, defensiveness, and zoning out. It’s choosing to feel instead of flee, to listen instead of argue, to reach instead of retreat.” The Vanishing Act Every couple knows this moment. You’re mid-conversation—maybe about finances, parenting, or something as small as leaving dishes in the sink—and suddenly, one of you disappears. Not physically, but emotionally. Eyes glaze over. Shoulders tense. One partner retreats into silence while the other presses harder, desperate

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couple and dog

How To Rebuild Trust After Betrayal (Even If It Feels Impossible)

Couples Counseling, Relationship /

“I’ll never stay with someone who cheats.” For most, cheating is the ultimate betrayal to experience in a relationship. How many of your friends have told you that they would never stay with a partner who cheats on them? Have you ever said that yourself? “Cheating is a deal breaker.” It seems so simple, easy. However, it is much easier said than done. Maybe you find out that a person you have been dating for

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A couple sitting on a bench.

How to Prepare for Couples Therapy (and Find the Right Therapist for You)

Anxiety, Couples Counseling, Depression, General, Growth, LGBTQ, Parenting, Relationship, Uncategorized /

Deciding to seek couples therapy is one of the bravest — and healthiest — steps you can take for your relationship. Still, it can feel intimidating. Many couples wonder: Where do we start? How do we know if we’re choosing the right therapist? What should we expect from the first few sessions? And let’s be honest — many of the people reading this fall into one of three groups: – You’ve tried therapy before and

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Why Can’t You Be More Selfish?

Relationship, Self-Esteem, Thoughts /

Drs. John and Julie Gottman remark, throughout their work on relationships, that “everyone is a philosopher,” since our choices and actions are informed by our deeply held beliefs and values. In this series of essays, I call upon the dear reader to challenge their philosophical perspective, to check their premises. Let’s consider ourselves and our partners in a new light and see what we might discover. Not an attempt to persuade — rather an invitation

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Ick

“The Ick” Or Intuition? Knowing When to Walk Away

Relationship /

I Have “The Ick” Have you heard that phrase? Maybe in casual passing when asking a friend about a recent date. Maybe on a popular media post or video. Did you have to ask what it meant? Did you google it the first time? As a popular turn of phrase, the definition can change based on who you ask or where you look. Here is our working definition of “The Ick.” The Ick: A sudden

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Modern Dating Dilemmas: Ghosting, Breadcrumbing, and “Situationships”

General, Relationship, Self-Esteem /

Have you ever considered the similarities between dating and fashion? Similar to fashion, dating has trends that come and go with the seasons and fan based popularity. Do you remember a time when people used terms such as “courting,” “going steady,” and “getting pinned” when referring to dating and romantic partners? Do you remember when using these terms stopped? Similar to fashion trends, these terms were popular for a period of time and then seemed

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Couple growing together

Why A Growth Mindset Matters in Love and Life

Growth, Relationship /

Introduction: Why Mindset Matters in Relationships If you’re in a partnered relationship, chances are you’ve experienced the highs of deep connection as well as the lows of conflict, disconnection, or even feeling stuck. What separates couples who thrive from those who get trapped in cycles of misunderstanding and resentment? One often overlooked factor is mindset. Carol Dweck’s pioneering research on growth versus static (often called “fixed”) mindset offers a powerful lens for understanding not only

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Rebuilding Family Bonds After Stress and Trauma: The Power of Family Therapy

Family Therapy, Parenting, Relationship /

This piece was written by our amazing therapist, Katrina Lopez, LMFT.  The Impact of Stressful Events On Us and Our Relationships: The world in which we live is never short of events that impact our well-being, whether that is through changes in our financial means, feeling emotionally and physically unsafe in society, going through life transitions with little or no support, or just typical everyday stressors. All of these things impact our mental health and

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Separation and Divorce Counseling

Rekindling Love for Empty Nesters: A Guide for Parents

Aging, Parenting, Relationship /

Rekindling Love for Empty Nesters: A Guide for Parents Introduction: The New Season No One Warns You About For couples over 50, becoming empty nesters can feel like standing in a quiet house with a loud silence. The last child heads off to college, and suddenly, it’s just the two of you again. No carpools. No sports schedules. No college applications. Just space, quiet—and a partner who might feel more like a roommate than a

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