Relationships
The Conflict Resolution Trick Therapists Swear By
The Conflict Resolution Trick Therapists Swear By A mom, tears streaming down her face, and said something I’ll never forget: “We had a screaming match about cheese. Actual cheese. My daughter wanted cheddar on her pasta, I said we only had parmesan, and thirty minutes later we were both crying and I was questioning every […]
What Your Phone is Doing to Your Marriage
What Your Phone is Doing to Your Marriage A couple describing what they called “the slow fade.” They weren’t fighting. Nobody had an affair. They still split chores fairly and tag-teamed bedtime like pros. But somewhere between the group texts, work emails, and doomscrolling at 10 PM, they’d become roommates with a shared calendar. “We’re […]
What Your Fights About Money Are Really About
What Your Fights About Money Are Really About Last week, a couple sat in my office, arms crossed, not making eye contact. She’d just discovered he’d bought a $400 set of golf clubs. He’d found out she’d been secretly paying off her sister’s credit card debt. “It’s not about the money!” they both insisted—while clearly […]
The Apology That Actually Heals Hurts
The Apology That Actually Heals Hurts Last week, a dad sat in my office and said something that broke my heart open: “I told my daughter I was sorry for yelling. I even hugged her. But she still won’t talk to me the way she used to.” He looked exhausted, confused, and genuinely trying. The […]
Why ‘We Need to Talk’ Scares Everyone
Why the Four Words “We Need to Talk” Feel Like a Relationship Earthquake Last week, a dad in my practice told me he’d rather give a presentation to a thousand strangers than hear his wife say, “We need to talk.” He laughed nervously as he said it, but his hands were shaking. His wife nodded […]
The Evening Ritual That Brought Us Back Together
The Evening Ritual That Brought Us Back Together I’ll never forget the Thursday evening when my client Sarah sat across from me, tears streaming down her face, and said something that broke my heart: “I live with my family, but I feel completely alone.” Her husband was always on his laptop after dinner. Her ten-year-old […]
What Your Love Language is Missing
What Your Love Language Is Missing Last week, a couple sat in my office, both near tears. “I show him I love him every single day,” Maria said, gesturing to her husband. “I pack his lunch. I keep the house running. I remember everyone’s doctor appointments. How is that not enough?” Her husband, James, looked […]
The Secret to Staying Connected in the Parenting Trenches
The Secret to Staying Connected in the Parenting Trenches Last Tuesday, I watched a couple sit on opposite ends of my couch — not in anger, but in exhaustion. Between them lay a fortress of invisible walls: work deadlines, after-school pickups, a toddler who’d forgotten how to sleep, and a teenager who’d forgotten how to […]
Why Your Partner’s Annoying Habit Might Be Your Trigger
Why Your Partner’s Annoying Habit Might Be Your Trigger Last week, a couple sat in my office describing what brought them to therapy. “He chews ice,” she said, her voice trembling with what could only be described as barely contained rage. “That’s it. Just… chews ice. And I feel like I’m losing my mind.” Her […]
The Appreciation Habit That Changed Everything
The Appreciation Habit That Changed Everything Last Tuesday, I watched a mom named Sarah sit on my office couch and cry — not because her family was falling apart, but because she couldn’t remember the last time anyone said “thank you” in her house. “I feel like a ghost who does laundry,” she whispered. Her […]