Marriage
Why are more and more women opting out of marriage? It’s a question I’ve been pondering lately. Because in nearly three decades of working with couples, I’ve watched this shift happen in real time. The Silver Splitters A woman walked into my office last month. Let’s call her Margaret. Sixty-two. Married thirty-seven years. And she […]
My son was walking home from school last week when a neighbor stopped him on the sidewalk. The man called my son over and said: “Hey kid, let me tell you something. Never get married. I’m saving you from a lot of grief. Trust me, it’s not worth it.” My son came home and told […]
You’re lying in bed next to someone who feels like a stranger. You wonder: Would I be happier with someone else? Here’s what I’m about to tell you after 27 years: Starting over is usually the biggest mistake you could make. Unless there’s abuse involved, walking away is rarely the solution you think it is. […]
I’ll never forget the moment I realized I’d spent my entire life lying. Not the kind of lies you tell to hurt people. The subtle ones. The “I’m fine” when I wasn’t. The “whatever you want” when I had my own opinion. The silent swallowing of hurt feelings, disappointment, and resentment—all wrapped in a smile. […]
Have you ever looked across the dinner table at your spouse and felt like you were sitting with a stranger? Not an enemy—that would almost be easier—but someone so distant they might as well be invisible? Last week, a woman sat in my office describing her marriage with devastating clarity: “We’re like two zombies living […]
What if I told you that your worst fight last week was actually a sacred invitation? After 32,000 clinical hours sitting across from couples in crisis, I’ve witnessed something profound. Marriage isn’t just a legal contract or romantic partnership—it’s a spiritual journey with a rhythm as natural as your heartbeat. Everything in life follows a […]
Why are daughters-in-law always painted as the villain when it comes to family drama? After over 32,000 hours working with clients, I can tell you this is the most common in-law issue I see in my office. And while it’s not always the case, the pattern is so predictable it’s almost painful to watch. Here’s […]
Every morning, I wake up to dozens of messages and emails. “Dr. Gloria, my husband never listens to me anymore.” “We fight about the same things over and over.” “I feel like roommates, not lovers.” “I’m exhausted from walking on eggshells.” These messages are poured out with pain, frustration, and desperation. And here’s what breaks […]
Often, I hear my clients share with me how “close” they were with their parent(s) growing up. At first glance, this sounds amazing. But when I probe further, I start to doubt this “closeness.” Let’s use “Maria” as an example. She beamed as she told me about her special bond with her mother. “We told […]
I often hear this from my clients: “I was my mom’s confidant. I consoled her when she and dad fought. I calmed my dad down so he wouldn’t get mad. I would change the topic when conversations got heated between my parents.” If this sounds like your childhood, you weren’t just a kid—you were the […]
I was a guest on a podcast today when the host asked a question that made me reflect on my life: “How do you navigate it when your partner, your parents, or in-laws have traditional values but you have a more modern view of relationships?” The question resonated because I’ve lived this exact tension my […]
Today marks my 27th wedding anniversary. I can barely believe we made it this far. The odds were stacked against us. Divorce runs in my family. My parents’ marriage ended badly. Four of my five siblings got divorced too. My template for marriage was not good, to say the least. But here’s what I learned […]
