couples Archives - Gary Brown

Does Valentine’s Day Stress You Out?

February 1, 2021 by Dr. Gary Brown

Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that people seem to either love (no pun intended) or hate. Children tend to love it because it typically involves candy of some sort. Grown-ups can go either way. If you are in a relationship, dating or otherwise, and if things are in good standing, it’s generally something you look forward ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Dating, Individuals Tagged With: couples, couples counseling, dating, Dr. Gary Brown, DrGaryLATherapist, how to get through valentines day, individual therapy, Los Angeles therapist, love, marriage, navigating valentines day, relationship therapy, relationships, sad love quotes, single on valentines day, valentines day, valentines day for singles

The Core Foundations of Real Love and True Intimacy – Part 5: Kindness

March 16, 2019 by Dr. Gary Brown

Ok. You might be looking at the title and why I am highlighting something that should be obvious – we need to be kind to one another. And you would have a point. It should be obvious but you might be surprised to learn that so many partners have actually lost sight of just how important kindness is. Here’s why. We’ve talked about ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Foundations of Love, Relationships Tagged With: core foundations, couples, intimacy, kindness, love, marriage, relationships

Three Phases of Romantic Love

February 5, 2019 by Dr. Gary Brown

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

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: couples, dating, Dr. Gary Brown, DrGaryLATherapist, individual therapy, Los Angeles therapist, love, marriage, mature love, relationship therapy, relationships, romantic love

Is It Time to Invite Your SO Home for the Holidays?

November 13, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

The holidays are upon us and you may be wondering if you should bring your boyfriend or girlfriend home for the holidays. This is one of those major milestones in a relationship, so there is a lot to consider. Elite Daily recently interviewed me about Should You Bring Your SO Home for Thanksgiving? 4 Signs You're Ready. So, if you’re thinking you ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Dating Tagged With: couples, dating, Elite Daily, holidays, meet family, meet parents, relationship

3 Common Relationship Fears and How to Move Beyond Them

September 11, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

We all have fears in our relationships. It’s absolutely normal. I was recently interviewed by Elite Daily about what are the most common fears and how to best address them proactively with your partner. If you are in a relationship where fears are starting to get in the way of your togetherness or you simply need some relationship advice and ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: couples, couples counseling, fear, insecurity, marriage counseling, relationship advice, relationships, troubled marriage

Taking Care of Your Mental Health AND Your Relationship

May 29, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

Since May is Mental Health Awareness month, I thought it would be good to share an article from Bustle where I was recently interviewed about how to talk to your partner about your mental health. Sharing your experience with anxiety or depression with someone you’re in a relationship with can be daunting. This article offers a number of things ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Family Tagged With: anxiety, conversations, couples, depression, Dr. Gary Brown, DrGaryLATherapist, family, individual therapy, Los Angeles therapist, mental health, relationship therapy, relationships

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

Navigating Fertility: 9 Practical Tips to Help You Cope

April 24, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

Navigating the emotional issues that naturally occur during your fertility journey is not always an easy path – as an individual and as a couple. And you are definitely not alone, although it may feel that way at times. Fertility issues impact 1 in 8 families in America. The stress can be enormous. Not just the societal pressure to have a family ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: anxiety, conversations, couples, couples counseling, family, family planning, fertility, infertility, marriage, relationship therapy, relationships, self care, stress, support system

4 Tips To Help You Get Over A Relationship You Know Isn’t Good For You

April 10, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

Most of us have been there. We are in a relationship that we know isn't good for us, but for any number of reasons, we stay anyway. It is painful to stay. It can also be painful to think about leaving. All of this can be pretty confusing. Wanting some tips for her readers on how to get over a relationship that is not a good fit, Kimmy ...read more

Filed Under: Dating, Individuals Tagged With: breakup, couples, depression, Elite Daily, heartbreak, how to know he's not the one, relationships, sadness

Is Chronic Conflict Ruining Your Marriage…and Your Kids?

March 20, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

Every relationship has conflict. Whether it’s about which way the toilet paper should roll, sexual issues, or if it’s about financial disagreements or politics, they are bound to happen. However, living in a state of constant conflict is another matter altogether. Living this way can be a very painful experience for everyone ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Family, Parenting Tagged With: arguing, children, couples, couples counseling, divorce, domestic violence, Dr. Gary Brown, DrGaryLATherapist, family, fighting, individual therapy, Los Angeles therapist, marriage, parenting, relationship therapy, separation

Out-of-the-Box Thinking for Last Minute Valentine Date Ideas

February 12, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

If you are looking for some out-of-the box thinking, and maybe some fun surprises for Valentine’s Day date ideas, or running a bit behind for planning what to do with your love, then here are some great ideas from my friends at Bustle. I was just interviewed for this article on tips to explore some interesting ideas, in addition to or maybe ...read more

Filed Under: Couples Tagged With: Bustle, couples, date ideas, dating, love, relationships, Valentines

Sexual Desire Discrepancies and What To Do About It

February 6, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

Do you feel like your partner wants sex all the time? You hate to say “no” (again), but then, why should you be having sex if you don’t want to? Sexual desire discrepancy is when one partner wants sex more frequently yet the occurrence of actual intercourse doesn’t match the desire. “I’m sorry, honey, not tonight,” is a common area of ...read more

Filed Under: Couples Tagged With: conflict, couples, desire discrepancy, he wants sex more than me, intimacy, marriage, passion, relationships, sex, sexual compatibility, sexuality

How to Apologize Well and Repair a Relationship

September 19, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

People are sorry all over the place. Some apologies are demanded. Some are expected. Some are politically played. There’s a new celebrity apology every month and some get it right and some may never recover. There are angry and flippant apologies, “I’m sorry, Ok?!?!” There are fauxpologies, “I’m sorry that you feel that way.” There ...read more

Filed Under: General counseling, Teens Tagged With: apologize, apology, better relationships, couples, courage, family, forgiveness, friendship, humility, integrity, patience, personal responsibility, regret, relationships, sorry, take responsibility

What Is Your Love Language?

July 18, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

Relationships can be hard. Sometimes it’s even a challenge to remember that you’re on the same team. You may only be seeing the things that drive you crazy. You know, those little things that get under your skin. Those things your partner may (or may not) be doing that you feel are driving you apart. You may find yourself asking, “What were the ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Relationships Tagged With: Acts of Service, book, couples, Gary Chapman, giving gifts, love, love language, physical touch, quality time, receiving gifts, relationships, The 5 Love Languages, touch, Words of Affirmation

Kissing is Good for Your Health!

May 23, 2017 by Dr. Gary Brown

Kissing is an integral part of our intimate relationships! Sometimes the art of kissing can sometimes fall by the wayside in the hustle and bustle of life. I call it an art because if I mention a few couples in the movies, you may remember one or more of these scenes... Johnny and Baby in Dirty Dancing on stage during the finale. “Nobody ...read more

Filed Under: Couples, Dating, Individuals, Relationships Tagged With: be more connected, boost immune system, burn calories, couples, improve mood, kissing, lower blood pressure, reduce physical pain, relationship advice, what is healthy about kissing, why kissing is good, why should I kiss