Our lives are so busy that work and family responsibilities preclude very much quiet time with our mates. We are so weary when we finally fall into bed that we seldom take the time to really talk to each other or to nurture that specialness that is ours alone.

Look at your schedule and...

Even the closest couples these days (with the rare, happy exceptions of those who work together) spend more awake time apart in their separate careers than they do together. The individual you are at work, no matter what career you pursue, is very different than the person you are within your...

A good portion of the enjoyment of a pleasant date is in the anticipation. We have a date for Friday night and we think about it throughout the week. We think about what we will wear, where we’ll go, what we’ll eat, what we’ll say and do. We plan on how long it will take to get...

Ask anyone in a committed long-term union for the secret of their success. Almost always, one of the top three reasons cited is the ability to laugh together. No matter how big the problems, or how many the obstacles, they will be most effectively approached with a sense of humor and the...

No matter how close we are to our partner, no matter how strong the bond and the mutual likes and dislikes, there are always little things that we do that “bug” our greatest audience. Too often, such personal habits are only discussed in the middle of a heated argument when they are...

A common expression is “I’ll meet you halfway,” and we often take that attitude into our marriage. I hear frequent complaints from couples in trouble that their partner isn’t pulling their fair weight, that one is giving more than the other.

Whoever determined that...

One of the challenges of even the strongest long-term relationship is the difficulty in keeping things fresh and new. We are creatures of habit, developing routines that work for us without our having to think about it. It allows us to move through fast-paced lives without having to make every...

Wendy started counseling with me because Terence, her husband of 14 years, had just expressed to her that he wanted to end their relationship. Wendy, terrified of being alone, was panicked. Within a few minutes of speaking with her in a phone session, I understood exactly the underlying cause of...

Infidelity is definitely not a new issue for couples today. Unfaithfulness seems to be a major problem in many relationships in todays society, as it has always been in the history of romance.

The first step any couple must take in recovering from infidelity is to determine if the...

I had a bad fight yesterday and today he/she is no more. How do I say sorry now? It is too late. But I never thought that this would happen to him/her. So healthy. A small pain in the chest that increased and before medical help could arrive he/she was dead. Now what do I do. But you know, I was...

The loss of trust is a very painful experience. It often involves a lot of hurt, confusion, anger, and sadness.

Dealing with these emotions is critical when trying to rebuild trust. When upset, we want our partners to understand our point of view – to understand our feelings and...

No matter how you slice it, the break up of any relationship almost always leaves at least one person asking, How did this happen?

The people who ask this question are the ones who fail to recognize the warning signs that point to a relationship in jeopardy. The reasons for which can...