Gary Brown

12 Signs Your Relationship Is Toxic

by

  Sometimes certain relationships are a challenge. It could be with your partner. A family member. A friend. Your boss. The problem is when this is more than just an occasional disagreement. That happens in the best of relationships. No. This is something quite different. All you know is that your relationship is so bad that you may find ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Three Steps to Rebuilding Trust

by

What do problems with finances, parenting, and infidelity have in common? Two things. First, they can break a relationship, and second, they all have to do with trust.Each of these hot button areas for couples boils down to a sense of trust or lack thereof. Lack of trust, trust betrayed, and trust taken for granted can lead to the very worst ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Brighter Side of Online Dating

by

In a time when a simple Google search will return hundreds of negative opinions about online and app dating sites, I’m here to give you a different perspective. While so many singles complain about apps like Tinder and joke about sites like FarmersOnly.com, online dating wouldn’t be a $2 Billion industry if those same people weren’t actively ...read more

Filed Under: Dating, General counseling, Individuals, Relationships Tagged With: , , , ,

5 Reasons to Attend Pre-Marital Counseling

by

It’s no secret that divorce is running rampant in the US today; in fact, it’s no longer taboo to divorce and remarry more than once. When you find out so-and-so is on their 3rd marriage, perhaps you make a quick joke, but it doesn’t really phase most people anymore. Where did this start? Why is this suddenly a non-issue? How did we become so ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , , ,

11 Tips To Help You Recover From A Breakup

by

Previously, I’ve talked about how to know if it’s time to break up and also offered some tips on how to make a break up easier if it has come to that. Now, I think it’s time to talk about how to move on after a break-up. Over the years, I’ve had many clients who have gone through break-ups and there is always a common theme: heal me, take away ...read more

Filed Under: General counseling, Individuals, Relationships Tagged With: , , ,

12 Tips For An Easier Break Up

by

I was getting a cup of coffee the other morning at my local coffee hub, and as I was waiting in line I noticed a couple sitting at a table nearby. It was obvious to everyone that they were having a heated conversation! The young lady’s voice was steadily rising and becoming more shrill. Tears were forming in her eyes, very close to ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , ,

How to Know If It’s Time To Break Up – QUIZ

by

How many of these warning signs apply to you right now? Here is a quick quiz to help you see. Directions: >> Click here to go ahead and print this out. << Then circle the number for each item. By circling the number of each item that applies to your situation, you are saying that the statement is “True”. By not circling the ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: , , ,

How To Know If Someone Is A True Narcissist

by

Narcissism is one of those terms that get thrown around pretty easily. Whenever someone is confident on the verge of being cocky, or who is very driven to achieve, they can get called out as being narcissistic. The question then becomes, what DOES make someone a true narcissist? What behaviors do they display that are truly “red flags”? It ...read more

Filed Under: Dating, General counseling, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , ,

10 Things You Can Do To Make Your Relationship Better Right Now

by

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

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Are You Sexually Compatible?

by

One of the things I hear questions about from my single clients and couples clients has to do with sexual compatibility. Usually, something going on, or not going on, in the bedroom often triggers the conversation. If you are struggling with this, you don’t need to feel alone. Your concerns are certainly not unique and very familiar. It turns ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Dating, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , ,

Keeping The Spark Alive: Breathing New Life Into Your Relationship

by

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

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Using Cell Phones and Social Media: 7 Practical Tips For Your Relationships

by

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

Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: , , , , , , ,