A good relationship can be hard to find. And it’s okay to be picky or not ready. And maybe online dating isn’t your scene. While your mom or your well-intended friends keep trying to set you up, maybe you’re just not ready for a serious relationship. Or maybe the idea of settling down is scary or just unappealing right now. And that’s ...read more
Search Results for: relationship issues
Give Your Relationship a Fighting Chance: 23 Tips to Fight Fair and Effectively
It goes without saying that even in the best of relationships, that there are going to be the inevitable conflicts. This is perfectly normal and natural. Sometimes our disagreements with each other can escalate into arguments, and we experience intense hurt, scared, and angry thoughts and emotions. When discussions turn into full-on ...read more
Having A Baby – Part 4: 12 Tips To Enhance Your Relationship After Your Baby Is Born
You’re exhausted, you’re not having sex (that may be the last thing on a new mother’s mind) and emotions vacillate wildly. Is this the blissful time you were expecting? And what about you, new dad? How is your life changing now that you are a parent? What do you need? If you’re concerned that you’re not yourself or feeling that maybe you’re ...read more
Why Physical Touch Is So Important in Relationships
One of the many issues that my clients – and couples in particular – present with are related to the experience of touching and being touched. For a variety of reasons, it seems that we are losing touch (pardon the horrible pun!) with our desire for physical contact. What I am seeing is that electronic “connection” is actually replacing ...read more
10 Things You Can Do To Make Your Relationship Better Right Now
Obviously, there are hundreds of things that you could do to enhance your relationship. Here are ten of those ideas that have proven to be very helpful for many couples with whom I’ve worked. 1. Hold Hands Beyond the simplest display of PDA, scientific studies of couples clearly show that holding hands reduces stress and increases our feelings of ...read more
Keeping The Spark Alive: Breathing New Life Into Your Relationship
It’s probably safe to assume that everyone loves the comfort and security of their marriage or relationship provides. But, it’s probably also a solid bet to assume no one wants that spark, that magic in their relationship, to disappear. It can seem like a catch-22. In order to feel attracted to a new partner, we have to feel that spark. And yet, in ...read more
Using Cell Phones and Social Media: 7 Practical Tips For Your Relationships
My wife and I were relaxing at home the other night when I looked over and realized that both of us were paying more attention to our cell phones and iPads than to each other. This doesn't happen too much, but it really made me think. “Look at us, what are we doing!?” I asked my wife. We were sitting right next to each other, yet we weren’t even ...read more
17 Tips to Help Reduce Anxiety and Panic Attacks
People seek me out for many reasons. Anxiety is one of the top three reasons, alongside depression, and relationship issues. In fact, at any given point in time, at least 20 percent of people are suffering from some type of anxiety. What is anxiety? Anxiety is actually a very normal, but unpleasant reaction to one or more situations ...read more
Three Phases of Romantic Love
People often ask in one way or another, “Should love change over time?” My response is always, “I certainly hope so!” Why do I say this? It’s fairly simple. I see far too many couples who settle for so much less in their love life. They may have initially fallen in love but after a while, it doesn’t seem to progress much beyond that. People ...read more
Coping with the Holiday Season When You’re Feeling Down
Holiday parties every weekend, traveling long distances, preparing for Thanksgiving. Christmas lists from the kids to Santa, Hanukkah presents for eight nights, extra time with extended family. Colder, winter weather (well, as cold as it can get in Southern California!) and endless sweet treats when we’re trying to follow a healthier eating ...read more
How to Decide If It’s Time to Move In Together
Sara (not her real name) came in for her appointment a while ago and I could tell something, other than the usual, was on her mind. She has been seeing her boyfriend for a little over a year. She’s 24 and he is 27 (not their actual ages). Sara’s been thinking about the future lately and believes she is ready for things to go to the next ...read more
Bullying on Social Media (and Other Places): Tips to Lessen or Even Eliminate the Impact
Bullying has historically included physical, sexual, emotional, verbal bullying. Now you can add cyberbullying and most recently, political bullying to the list. Often, in incidences of bullying, the perpetrator uses more than one of these tactics on his/her victim or escalates from one to the next. Given the current environment, several ...read more
How to Know If Someone May Be Considering Suicide and What to Do
September is Suicide Prevention Month and it’s an important topic. Statistics show that eight out of ten people considering suicide give some sort of sign of their intentions. Imagine someone that you care about, a friend or family member, is having a rough time (like we all do occasionally), YOU could be the person that makes a difference in ...read more
Why, How, and What to Look for In a Therapist
If you’re suffering from unresolved conflicts or need to get a handle on some reoccurring issues that just won’t go away, you may have come to the realization that you could benefit from seeking out a therapist to help you navigate the challenges you are facing. If you are not sure and are still wondering if therapy could work for you, that’s ...read more
How Helicopter Parenting Impacts a Child’s Confidence
Parenting is… hard. As the father of three, I get it. Issues with parenting can occur anytime and anywhere – morning, evening, middle of the night, at home, while driving, in your local mall. Parental anxiety and the conflicts which emerge from it can pose real problems for parents and children. In addition, our role as parents has many ...read more