My Partner Has Stopped Meeting My Needs

by Marianne Marlow, MA, LMHC | Jan 27, 2023 | Marriage, relationships

“My partner is withdrawing emotionally and physically and no longer seems to be interested in meeting my needs. I want our relationship to be close again. I have no idea how to navigate this situation.” Most healthy relationships include five core elements: open...

Does Marriage Have to Be Hard?

by Marianne Marlow, MA, LMHC | Jan 13, 2023 | Marriage, relationships

I realize that when I fully commit to anything in life, it will not necessarily be easy-peasy, but should my marriage be this hard? Successful marriages and long-term commitments require action from both partners, and sometimes it seems like work. Should it feel like...

Does a Midlife Crisis Lead to Divorce?

by Marianne Marlow, MA, LMHC | Dec 30, 2022 | Divorce, Life Changes, Life Events, Marriage

Cartoons often depict middle-aged people amid a midlife crisis indulging in out-of-character purchases and activities – red sports cars, motorcycles, skydiving, and dressing like teenagers, with a spouse at their side wondering, “What is going on? Who is this person...

Why the First Year of Marriage Is So Hard – And How to Get Through It Together

by Marianne Marlow, MA, LMHC | Nov 18, 2022 | Life Changes, Life Events, Marriage, Relationship

You have married your special person and now your life together feels incredibly hard. You may wonder what is wrong with your marriage, “We have not even been married a year yet!” You may be concerned about stirring up more conflict with your spouse, so you avoid...

Emotional Gender Inequality in a Relationship

by Marianne Marlow, MA, LMHC | Nov 11, 2022 | Communication, Marriage, Relationship

My wife wants me to be open and vulnerable and then calls me weak when I open up. I don’t understand. This is a common scenario. It can feel personal and perplexing, but emotional gender inequality is something that looms invisibly in the background of many lives, and...

Yes, You Can Say NO! Prioritizing your Relationship Over Your Job

by Marianne Marlow, MA, LMHC | Nov 4, 2022 | Communication, First Responders, Marriage, Relationship

Setting boundaries in our relationships and at work can be hard and is especially tough for people in high-pressure fields, like the medical field, or for those who work as first responders, but setting those boundaries – both at work and in your relationship...