connection Archives - Gary Brown

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

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

Anxiety in the Age of Social Media: What to Do for You & Your Family

October 3, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

Is social media ruining our relationships and causing anxiety and depression in our teens and tweens? My wife and I were lucky enough to raise our three children before the age of social media, but the studies I’m reading on the negative and dangerous effects that social media is having on the development of children’s and teenagers social ...read more

Filed Under: Family, Individuals, Parenting, Teens Tagged With: anxiety, bullying, bullying on social media, connection, consequences, courage, cyber-bullying, depression, lonely, relationships, social media

Why Physical Touch Is So Important in Relationships

July 11, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

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

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: connection, flirt, intimacy, nonverbal communication, relationships, touch, touching

Confused About Dating? 5 Tips to Making It Easier

June 27, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

The scenario plays out over and over. As soon as a date is set, whether is the first or third, the cycle starts. Nervousness. What do I wear? Is my favorite shirt clean? Will they be interested in my day? Will they be happy to see me or staring at their phone the whole time? Should I bring a gift? Oh God, what would I bring? Is the ...read more

Filed Under: Dating, Individuals, Relationships Tagged With: authentic self, connection, dating, how to make dating easier, open minded, optimistic

Are Happy Relationships the Fountain of Youth? A 75-Year Harvard Study Has the Answer

June 13, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

I have long, LONG been a supporter, cheerleader, proponent, rabble-rouser, whichever term you’d like to use, of the idea of authentic, high-quality, deep relationships. I believe it’s critical to have certain people in your life you can be truly open and emotionally intimate with; those who you feel fully secure with. Whether it’s your partner, ...read more

Filed Under: General counseling, Relationships Tagged With: aging, aging better, connection, deep relationships, how to connect with others, secret to a longer life, secret to happiness, trust, vulnerability, what is the secret to being happy

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

July 14, 2016 by Dr. Gary Brown

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: cell phones in relationships, connection, dating, how to be more connected, love, marriage, parenting, social media