Communication

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 […]

What impact does an emotionally distant and physically absent father have on daughters?   Last week, I shared my reflections about its impact on sons. Today, I want to speak about its effect on daughters. (Men, if you have daughters, this one is for you too.)   My own story begins with a little girl […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 thing is, this is […]

It’s Not What You Think Twenty-six years ago, I stood at the altar, blissfully unaware of the challenging yet beautiful odyssey that lay ahead. Today, as I celebrate my 26th wedding anniversary, I’m struck by how much we’ve grown – not just as a couple, but as individuals. When we first met, like many couples, we […]

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 […]

How Shared Activities Can Revitalize Your Relationship Pickleball has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. According to Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), pickleball participation grew by 223.5% from 2020 to 2023, with 48.3 million players in the United States alone. While pickleball appeals to all age groups, it’s particularly popular among […]

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 […]

And it’s really not that hard Do you find yourself replaying the same painful scenarios in your relationships, feeling powerless to change the outcome? Are you and your partner stuck in a loop of misunderstandings and resentment that feels impossible to escape? These patterns can be deeply isolating, creating a barrier to the love and […]