As discussed in my previous blog, this last year between Debbie and I have been filled with divisiveness. I had become very triggered to the point where I would not listen to anything she said about Trump. What I didn't quite realize was that my...
Recently, Debbie Seid and I were interviewed by Clare Ansberry, Pittsburgh bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal. In her post, How to Reconcile with Family and Friends After the Election, we were candid about our experience with differing political views this election cycle. Also featured on Lunch Break...
Eye contact is particularly important when communicating with our partner. We all know that nonverbal communication is always happening. We communicate nonverbally with our tone of voice, facial expressions, touch, eye contact, etc. Often times, the message we are communicating nonverbally contradicts what we are verbally expressing....
When working with engaged couples, we discuss the importance of open communication regarding money matters. Often, couples don’t know the questions or topics they should be discussing before walking down the aisle. Below, our friends at the San Diego Family Mediation Center tackle six important questions each...
How to work towards taking responsibility, and reduce placing blame. There are three cardinal sins in relationships and blaming is one of them. When you blame someone, you take no responsibility for your part in it. That’s because when something goes wrong, there is usually so...
It’s our judging mind that separates us from feelings.Empathy is listening with your heart and feeling the emotions involved in communicating with your partner. It is imagining – and on some level, experiencing – the emotions that your partner is sending. It is the ability...
BY SOME ESTIMATES, 30% OF MARRIED HOUSEHOLDS CONTAIN A MISMATCH IN PARTISAN POLITICAL VIEWS. As a marriage and relationship therapist I pride myself on having a wonderful relationship with my girlfriend. We communicate very well and easily resolve our conflicts by dealing with issues directly and...
For young couples, the thrill of engagement and wedding preparations can overshadow an important fact: on the other side of the honeymoon, life as usual awaits. What will married life look like? Marriage education not only prepares partners for the challenges and opportunities of married life,...
One of the reasons it is so difficult for people to be fully present in their relationships with their partner is that they have not cultivated a relationship habit or practice. If you went to a gym and saw someone lifting a 50 pound weight, you’d...
In a healthy marriage, roles and responsibilities are discussed because they directly affect each partner's behaviors and responsibilities in everyday life. Whether it's household chores, childcare or decisions that need to be made, partners need to discuss how these roles should be defined and implemented....