Communication

Surviving Difficult Family Gatherings Every year, my friend “Jessica” and her son go on a cruise during Christmas. While others are hanging stockings and planning family dinners, she’s arranging her annual escape. When I asked her why, she smiled and said simply, “It’s better than pretending to enjoy time with people I’d rather not see.” […]

This topic always lands me in hot water, but frankly, I don’t care – because it’s one of the most common issues couples come to me for, especially during the holidays. I’m talking about the mental load, that invisible backpack of responsibilities that’s often silently crushing the holiday spirit of one partner while the other […]

Last week, I spoke about the challenge of excessive independence. Today, I want to explore another way many of us struggle in relationships: dependency. The first type of dependency often stems from our childhood experiences. Perhaps we had parents who, with the best intentions, did everything for us – making decisions, solving problems, protecting us […]

Are you a negative person and not know it? Growing up, I always felt a knot in my stomach before talking to my parents. Don’t get me wrong – I loved them and think they did the best they could, but there was something about our communication when I was a kid that left me […]

Then Don’t Focus on Communication For over 26 years, every couple I’ve worked with started the first session with the same request… “We want to know how to communicate better to stop fighting and get along.” And for 26 years, I’ve been discouraging couples from solely focusing on their communication skills to end their cycle […]

Is It Possible? There’s a question that I keep getting asked over the decades when helping couples. It is one of the most challenging and loaded questions. It’s also a question that is tender to me because it reminds me of one of the main reasons why my parents’ marriage failed… How do I move […]

Transforming Past Hurts Into Secure Connections Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons, sometimes through the most unexpected – and occasionally unpleasant – experiences. Here’s mine… Believe it or not, I’ve had the dubious honour of being pooped on my head by a bird twice in my lifetime. Once this week, and once […]

And transform your bonds There’s a saying in couples therapy that “we marry our unfinished business.” It is absolutely true. In my 26 years of working with couples, I have seen this repeatedly, without exception. What do I mean by this?  I see couples who repeat relationship patterns, communication challenges, and conflict styles. The interesting […]

7 Powerful Strategies for Couples to Overcome Conflict & Rebuild Trust Let’s talk about something that hits close to home for so many of us – those moments when our relationships hit a rough patch. You know the ones I’m talking about, right? The silent dinners, the cold shoulders, the feeling that you and your […]

Why Gossip Kills Connection and How to Build Real Bonds In my 26 years as a relationship expert, I’ve witnessed countless attempts at connection. But recently, a scene in a local café crystallized a truth I’ve long observed: sometimes, our efforts to bond can actually push us further apart. Picture this: four new moms, babies […]

A Guide to Finding Joy in Life’s Little Messes This morning, I walked into my kitchen, reaching for my first cup of coffee, when I saw something on the floor. From afar, it looked like a small mouse. But when I looked down, I realized… there they were – my son’s socks, casually discarded right […]

And How to Break Free From Its Bondage The Ripple Effect of Patriarchy on Relationships Internalized patriarchal norms don’t just harm individual men; they create relationship dynamics that can leave both partners feeling unfulfilled. Here are some ways: Poor Communication Skills: Communication breakdowns occur when men struggle to articulate their needs or fears. Often, feelings […]