communication Archives

Those Other Three Words

April 21, 2021 by Dr. Gary Brown

There’s a lot of talk about when to say those special three words – “I love you” – in a relationship. Some say a relationship can be doomed if they are shared too soon or not at all, and experts often weigh-in on the best timing. However, that’s actually not the subject of this article. I’m talking about the other three words that can be ...read more

Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: child, children, communication, connection, family, friends, intimacy, loved one, parents, relationships, support, trust

50 Conversation Starters to Help Grow Your Relationship

March 29, 2021 by Dr. Gary Brown

Life can be so busy that we don’t always sit and talk, really talk, to the one we love the most. There’s so much happening with work, family, friends and household errands that all too often we forget to take the time to connect with our partner and really tune into them and to provide an opportunity for them to tune in to us. Everyone likes to ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: communication, connection, intimacy, love, trust, vulnerability

7 Relationship Conversations for the Next COVID Challenges

June 7, 2020 by Dr. Gary Brown

So far, you’ve made it through quarantining together. Congratulations. Hopefully you both have taken the time to acknowledge that you faced adversity together and you’re coming out on the other side. Being together at home for that amount of time and sharing your space is no easy feat and you should be proud of your relationship ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: communication, community, conversations, coping, coronavirus, couples communication, COVID, fears, freedom, gratitude, kindness, living together, quarantine, relationship conversations, relationships, self care, stress

How to Know If You Are Marrying the Wrong Person

July 3, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

One of the biggest things that happen in our lives is finding a mate and getting married. This event is a pivotal moment for many people, and something they look forward to long before the event happens. Getting married can also be stressful and scary. But if you have the right partner along for the ride, then things should still be fun and ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: affection, argue, aruguing, closeness in relationships, communication, fight, fighting, intimacy, laughter, marriage, marrying the right person, marrying the wrong person, personality, pre-wedding stress, relationships, sex

Give Your Relationship a Fighting Chance: 23 Tips to Fight Fair and Effectively

May 1, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

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

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: abuse, arguing, communication, conflict, couples, couples counseling, domestic abuse, Dr. Gary Brown, fight fair, fighting, individual therapy, Los Angeles therapist, marriage, relationship therapy, relationships

Online Dating: The New Vocabulary and Tips for Success

November 14, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

We used to find dates by a chance encounter or set up by mutual friends. However, these days most dating begins digitally. There are over a dozen dating apps that allow you to you make a love connection from your phone in the age of Tinder. I have met some wonderful couples who started dating on these phone apps and dating sites, which is ...read more

Filed Under: Dating, Individuals Tagged With: benched, benching, bread-crumb, breadcrumb, breezing, breezy, communication, connection, conversation, cushion, cushioned, dating, ghost, ghosted, haunt, haunted, haunting, online dating, Plan B, relationships, slow fade, strategies for healthy relationships, stringing along, swipe, terms, Tinder, vocabulary, zombie

Weinsteingate and Sexual Harassment: What Now?

November 7, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

It’s almost impossible to have missed the #MeToo conversations happening on social media last month. It came along with a myriad of allegations of sexual abuse from far too many women and the abuse of power of Harvey Weinstein, movie mogul. Now, this past week allegations have been made against Kevin Spacey, from an actor about inappropriate sexual ...read more

Filed Under: General counseling, Individuals Tagged With: #MeToo, Bill O'Reilly, bullied, bully, catcall, communication, condescending, conversation, cyber-bullying, Dr. Gary Brown, DrGaryLATherapist, expose, friends, grabbing, Harvey Weinstein, humiliation, indecent exposure, lewd, Los Angeles therapist, name behavior, obscene, physical touch, pornography, power trip, relationship therapy, sexist, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, sexual inappropriate, sexual innuendo, stalking, touch, touching, Weinsteingate

What To Do If Your Partner Works Too Much

September 12, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

“It may not be another woman, but it sometimes feels like it.” Are there late night texts, phone calls that are “just a quick minute” during meals, and long late hours at the office? I’ve had a number of female clients through the years express their sadness, frustration and even loneliness because they felt their husbands and partners ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Family, Relationships Tagged With: career, change, communication, date night, goals, intimacy, love languages, make requests, priorities, relationships, stress, vision, workaholic

Top 10 Reasons Couples Seek Counseling

July 7, 2016 by Dr. Gary Brown

When I decided to write this Top 10 list, I sat down and thought about all the reasons why couples come to see me. As you can probably imagine, I very quickly realized there are way more than 10 reasons; however, there are some common themes I have observed over the years. No couple is the same, so whether one of these resonates with you or several ...read more

Filed Under: General counseling Tagged With: communication, couples counseling, divorce, infidelity, parenting styles, premarital counseling, separation, top 10