I want you to be more vulnerable with me.” If you’ve ever heard that from a partner, you know how disorienting it can feel. What does it even mean? And why is it so hard? A therapist explains what emotional vulnerability really is, why we resist it, and how we can begin to find our way toward it.
Read MoreDid you grow up feeling emotionally lonely, and unheard in what to the outside looked like a stable and “good” home? Dr. Lindsay Gibson, author of the landmark book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, explains the impact of having emotionally immature parents and how you can heal.
Read MoreEver wonder about your Attachment Style? Take this quick, easy quiz to find out whether you're secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized, and unlock a little more self-awareness along the way.
Read MoreStruggling to stay connected in the bedroom? Discover responsive sex — the evidence-based approach that helps couples rediscover desire without pressure, schedules, or rejection.
Read MoreEvery couple has been there — a minor disagreement that somehow turns into a full-blown fight within minutes. It's not because you're broken or wrong for each other. There's a very specific reason it happens, and once you understand it, everything changes.
Read MoreEmpathy and sympathy aren't the same thing — and in a relationship, the difference matters more than you might think. Learn what sets them apart, see real examples, and discover what your partner really needs from you.
Read MoreUnlike guilt, shame isn’t about your behavior, shame is a reflection of how you see yourself in your life. The most common expression of shame is a feeling that “I’m not enough” or “I’m not good enough”. The feeling of shame is crippling.
Read MoreThe world tells us that retirement should be your ultimate happy place. But, for many people, retirement is a significant source of distress. The solution lies in finding meaning, not just filling your day with activities.
Read MoreGreat marriages are not based on a lack of conflict, they are based on a deep sense of emotional intimacy. If you feel tightly connected to your partner, you can navigate all kinds of problems. But without that connection, each time you hit rough water it feels like the marriage may capsize.
Read MoreThe desire for sex and intimacy never goes away, it remains important for our entire life. But, we may have to make adjustments for our aging bodies. Older couples can find intimacy and connection no matter what their age or physical abilities.
Read MorePorn can become an ongoing source of pain in some marriages. It can cause fights, deeply hurt feelings, resentment, and sometimes divorce.
Read MoreCouples don’t stop having sex because of boredom. They stop because they don’t feel emotionally connected. In long-term relationships, sex is powered by emotional intimacy, not hormones.
Read MoreDownload my free handbook - 5 Easy Steps to Greater Emotional Intimacy
Read MoreAre polyamorous relationships real relationship? Or is it just a different way of cheating? Can you really love, and feel connected, to more than one person? How does that work?
Read MoreGaslighting is one of the most disorienting experiences in a relationship — and one of the hardest to name. If you've ever walked away from a conversation feeling confused, ashamed, or convinced that your own memory can't be trusted, you may have experienced it. Learn the signs, see real examples, and find out what to do next.
Read MorePassive-Aggressive behavior can wreck a relationship. It’s hard to spot and hard to defend against. And, it can leave the non-passive-aggressive partner feeling lost, confused, gaslighted, and alone.
Read MoreTrial separations are confusing. How long should a break last? Positive signs during a separation? Is there a trial separation checklist to help you think through your time apart?
Read MoreThe change from a sexually active relationship to a sexless marriage is usually a gradual process. The couple moves from being sexually active, to less active, to infrequent sex, and then to no sex. Until suddenly they realize that it’s been months or years since they’ve had a meaningful sexual connection.
Read More“Radical Empathy”. Sounds like a crazy idea doesn’t it? How can empathy be radical? But applying the principles of Radical Empathy to your relationship can help you and your partner grow closer and deepen your sense of connection.
Read MoreAs a psychotherapist specializing in working with seniors, I’m sometimes called into situations where middle aged children are in a pitched battle over how to care for their elderly parents. Often the kids are so focused on their own conflict, that they can’t see that their intransigence is resulting in their parents not receiving the care they need.
Read More
