Your “Family of Origin” in Relationship
Your “family of origin” is the family in which you were raised, and it can have a significant influence on your romantic relationships.
Ready to Work on Improving Your Relationship?
At some point, every romantic relationship could use some work. Learn to create the best plan for moving towards a better relationship.
Am I Too Sensitive, or Is My Partner Uncaring?
We invest our entire lives into our relationships, which can drive our emotions high when we feel our partner is uncaring. Any amount of sensitivity that we possess can go into overload status when we feel frustrated, hurt, ignored, or invalidated. There are many reasons why a partner may perceive an imbalance with their partner in their levels of feelings and shared empathy in a relationship, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
What Are the Non-Negotiables for Your Relationship?
Compromise is always important to a healthy relationship. But what happens when compromise feels wrong, and you no longer want to negotiate? What are the non-negotiables for your relationship, and how do you talk to your partner about them?
My Partner Has Stopped Meeting My Needs
Most healthy relationships include five core elements: open communication, equal power, having your own lives outside of the relationship, trust and honesty, resolving conflict respectfully, and emotional intimacy. When one partner withdraws emotionally or physically from a relationship, a chasm is created that works against open communication, trust and honesty, and (especially) emotional intimacy. This dysfunction can be difficult to understand and leaves the partner who feels left alone confused and unsettled – and pining for an answer.
Does Marriage Have to Be Hard?
There are literally endless reasons why a marriage or a long-term relationship can feel difficult, for example, poor conflict navigation, lack of work/life balance, infidelity, and waning intimacy. Studies indicate that stressful life transitions, such as having children, moving to a different home, job loss or change, and major illness or injury, can lead to a decline in how partners feel about their relationship, and this can make maintaining a relationship feel much harder.
Does a Midlife Crisis Lead to Divorce?
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 that I no longer know? Are we heading to divorce court?” Setting those images aside, a midlife crisis involves much more than acting like a person who is twenty+ years younger, and it does not always lead to separation in a marriage.
Why the First Year of Marriage Is So Hard – And How to Get Through It Together
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 approaching the topic. You might not seek advice from others, not even your best friend, because you do not want anyone to think that your marriage is falling apart. If this describes your scenario, know that what you are experiencing is common.
Emotional Gender Inequality in a Relationship
We all need to be lifted up, and it can be done by sharing emotions. But this isn’t about being so intentional that you’re faking it. Sharing your true positive emotions, like feelings of love, appreciation, empathy, and happiness can strengthen your relationship. When you make the extra effort to share positive emotions, you cultivate an environment where open and honest communication thrives.
Yes, You Can Say NO! Prioritizing your Relationship Over Your Job
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 – is critical. When we talk about boundaries, there are three […]
