Relationship problems and the holidays? It happens. Oh, we so hope everyone will be different when we visit them this holiday season…especially the difficult, fearful and judgmental ones! In fits of wishful thinking, we hope that any growth we have achieved during the past year will have, by osmosis, been passed along to them.  They [...]

It’s holiday time.  Time for seeing friends and relatives, creating traditions, celebrating together.  Time for taking time to connect.  Time for family relationships and traditions. Time that sometimes seems a little scarce  throughout the rest of the year. Sounds great!  But, a small problem. Somehow, during the holidays, time becomes even scarcer!  Instead of slowing down [...]

Sometimes we are so mired down in the details of our lives that we forget to lift our heads and see the bigger picture. Today, I just wanted to give you something to warm your heart and lift your spirit…as well as your head. For there to be peace in our relationships, in our life [...]

Really, I don’t think there are many lonelier places on earth to be than in a marriage…where people are walking alone together. Do you know what I mean?  If you have ever experienced it, you will know instantly. I’ve been there and I know. And, I’ve seen it so often in my couples counseling practice. [...]

Abuse is any behavior that is designed to control or dominate another person. Whether that is through fear, humiliation, intimidation, isolation, guilt, blaming, manipulation or denial.  Therefore, emotional abuse is simply any abuse that is emotional rather than physical. It can include belittling, discounting,  manipulating the emotions of another and constant criticism. It can be [...]