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Author: Peter Pearson, Ph.D. Houston We Have a Problem! If astronauts went to Mars, it would take up to 20 minutes to transmit a message to mission control in Houston, and 20 minutes more for them to receive a response from mission control. That’s a 40-minute time lag! “Mayday Mayday! Mission control, our left fuel […]
Marriage is a journey filled with love, joy, and companionship, but it can also have its fair share of challenges and rough patches. When faced with relationship difficulties, seeking professional help through marriage counseling can be a valuable resource. If you’re considering marriage counseling, you might wonder, “What can I expect from this process?” Understanding […]
Of course, most folks would like both. Ideally, we’d be completely loved and understood at all times, right? But if you had to prioritize, which would you choose? Feeling loved is more heart-centered, and being understood is more brain-centered. Think about recent arguments or discussions you’ve been in with your partner. Were the ideas you […]
Tips for learning how to stop avoiding conflict. Darn few people enjoy conflict. Well, if the internet has taught us anything, there’s always someone somewhere that lives counter to what we think. But most of us are hard-wired to avoid conflict. This was a good thing for most of humankind’s development. The dangers we faced […]
Relationship tips and tricks can strike us from the most interesting places. Even the intimidating rattlesnake teaches us a lesson in better couples communication. Don’t worry. We’re not asking you to handle a rattlesnake, attend the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, or anything extreme. This is a lesson that comes from observation. You can enjoy the results […]
Many come into couples therapy uncertain of what will happen. For many, this might be their first time in any kind of counseling or therapy. They don’t know what to expect from the therapist or if the therapist has unique expectations for them. In our experience, most approach couples counseling with some apprehension. Their idea […]
Could this be the best (and cheapest) date night ever? What comes to mind when you think of a date night? Most would probably imagine a trip to an expensive restaurant, concert, or special event. You must plan, schedule, and then dress up, spending lots of time and money. We all love our partners and […]
For many, wedding vows are a lower priority in their planning focus. Sure, they’ll agonize over the location, guest list, and even the cake. But the vows are often almost forgotten in the scramble to take care of all the details. Put off as an afterthought to be written up the night or morning before […]
Most of us have childhood memories of the mythic cookie jar. Almost every household had one at some point or another. Maybe it had a funny shape, spelled out the word “cookie” as if to tease us, or worse of all, it was transparent so that we could see the cookies contained within. The cookie […]
Over the years, we’re taught by films, books, and society at large that the way to express the gift of love on an anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or other big day is to buy our partner flowers (or in old-fashioned comedies, this is how attempts were made to correct a mistake). Who doesn’t love flowers? They […]
I love counseling and marriage therapy and felt my calling to this profession at an early age. But there’s a lot of time and education you need to get through before you can run your first couples therapy session. Like many people, as I was advancing along the way in life and my training, I […]
When was the last time you played a love language game and got to know your partner? Most of us will remember the classic game “Twenty Questions.” It used to be an age-old favorite in the pre-smartphone era. For those who don’t remember, or never had the chance to play, you have 20 questions to […]
Probably the number one question we get asked is whether or not couples counseling can save a relationship or marriage. Since many might be skimming the article or are short for time, we’ll cut to the chase and say, yes it can – with some caveats. We’re not just saying that because we’re counselors. According […]
When many people think of couples counseling, they don’t think of young or unmarried couples who are dating. Unfortunately, many believe that counseling for couples is a last-ditch effort to save a marriage or something reserved only for couples experiencing some extreme trouble. Couples counseling is not reserved for one specific type of relationship or […]
Reaching out for therapy is a big step and it’s totally normal to feel a sense of anxiety or fear about starting couples counseling. Maybe you have a bad preconception of what marriage or couples counseling is. We’ve all heard from friends or seen on TV the unpleasant challenges and dissatisfaction partners express that can […]