Couples Therapy differs from Individual Counseling in terms of who the client is. With Individual Counseling the client is the person in front of you. In Couples Counseling, the client is the relationship and I’m paying attention to what is going on between partners as well as what is going on for each of them […]
Are We Headed For Divorce?
Dr. John Gottman has studied relationships for more than 40 years. He can predict with 90% accuracy which couples will split and which can go the distance. What causes love to erode and fall apart? What are happy couples doing that helps them stay together? Learn the reasons why couples break up and what you […]
4 Signs You’ve Become Addicted to Opiates
The nation’s opioid epidemic is a topic that’s frequently addressed on television and in social media, and for good reason. According to 2018 data gathered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 130 people in the United States die every day after overdosing on opioids. Opiates are a highly addictive type of drug, […]
10 Signs You Might Be a “Highly Sensitive Person”
Are you a highly sensitive person (HSP)? If so, you’re not alone. It is estimated that roughly 15 to 20 percent of the population is highly sensitive. In fact, scientists now believe there is a gene behind this trait. But what does it mean to be highly sensitive? The HSP is generally defined as someone […]
How to Ask for Help in Times of Need
You probably remember a time in school or out shopping when you wanted to ask for help, but stopped yourself. You might have even had a prompt from the teacher, “Does anyone have any questions?” or from an associate, “Is there something I can help you with?”. Still, even when it’s their job (or their […]
6 Ways that Alcohol Makes Depression Worse
A great many alcoholics are also suffering from major depression. Because alcohol can feed our brain’s serotonin receptors, it can make someone feel good for a short amount of time. But eventually the person crashes and feels even worse than they did before. And this vicious cycle continues and is, unfortunately, very hard to break […]
4 Ways to Improve Communication in Your Relationship
If you’re reading this blog post, chances are you and your significant other have hit a snag in the relationship. Maybe you’re spending less time with each other and you’ve grown apart. Or maybe you do little else than argue these days. All relationships go through their ups and downs. No matter the good intentions […]
Psychology Finally Reveals the Answer to Finding Your Soulmate
We as social creatures have a deep and underlying desire to find that one perfect person to spend the rest of our days with. That one person when you meet, you feel an uncontrollable attraction to and an illogical sense of familiarity with. As if you’ve known that person for a lifetime, or perhaps lifetimes. […]
Healthy Relationships Matter in Recovery
It may be surprising to find out there are not any empirical studies that actually support the position that couples work should be avoided in early recovery. In fact, research supports just the opposite. Relationship health and wellness is one of the strongest predictors of successful long-term sobriety! As therapists and counselors, how we conceptualize […]
Counseling for Couples with Addiction
Couples with addiction are four times more likely to divorce. Even after recovery. Despite the fact that addiction is considered a “family disease”, the prevailing norm is to discourage any type of relational approach early in recovery. Treatment focus is limited to individual recoveries, postponing couples therapy until sobriety is well established, minimally for at […]