Yearly Archives: 2016

Swizz Beatz Demonstrates How to Support Your Spouse ©[Buzzfuss]/123RF.COM Well, Alicia Keys did it.  She went make-up free, and it has stirred up a lot of controversy over the last couple of months.   Alicia felt like she was covering up her true self, and she wanted to be free.  To help people understand her decision,  Alicia made a statement about her journey to self discovery.  She said, “I don’t want to cover up anymore.  Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.” There has been a significant amount [...]

Healthy Relationships vs. Unhealthy Relationships Today’s topic is addressing the differences in healthy and unhealthy relationships. A healthy relationship is based on mutual respect, trust, partnership and support. It seeks to be fair when addressing any conflict and seriously takes the other person’s point of view into consideration. This usually plays out in a few key characteristics that are necessary. According to the Duluth Model’s Equality Wheel, a healthy relationship has 9 key elements: Non-Violence; Negotiation & Fairness; Non-Threatening Behavior; Respect; Trust & Support; Honesty & Accountability; Responsible Parenting; Shared Responsibility; and Economic Partnership. During counseling sessions with couples, one [...]

Bringing Back The Good Ol’ Days  Remember the days when your relationship was new and everything was so exciting?  When relationships are new, you may anticipate your next interaction; it may feel like waiting in line for a roller coaster ride! This excitement creates an intense interest to see each other.  There is also a great deal of concern and interest in your partner’s feelings.  When the sparks are flying, there is an increased focus on connecting emotionally.  At this stage in the relationship, you are more likely to center your life around your partner. Many people ask, “What can I do to bring back that [...]

Being engaged and taking that next step toward marriage is one of the most exciting times in life. Many of the engaged couples that I counsel have used terms like: bliss, peace, a high, content, or satisfied to describe the feeling of finally finding “The One” with whom they are committing to spend a lifetime! Since getting married is a major life change, many people make it a priority to seek couples counseling or pre-marital counseling. Couples come to counseling for various reasons. Research has shown that married couples tend to wait six years after a problem arises in the relationship before going to counseling. Naturally, it can [...]

Parenting can sometimes be intense; it is one of the most trying roles that many of us take on in life. Blending a family to include children from your partner’s prior relationship can sometimes add even more of a challenge.  Here are some tips if you are in a blended family system. Set time aside to spend together. Despite the hectic schedules that go along with raising children and making a family work, it is always important for the parenting couple to take care of the intimate relationship.  Whether you choose to go on a date once a week or have [...]

When relationships begin, many couples show their desire for each other in the courting process.  Early in the relationship, showing affection is high on the list.   Over time, this attention to the relationship can be lost.  Flirting or engaging in behavior that shows that you are attracted to someone is a sure relationship booster!  What did you do early in your relationship to flirt with your partner?  How can you bring this flirty behavior back? If you don’t know where to get started, here are some ideas to get you going. Do you recall those times when you would spend [...]

An Invitation To The Clean-up  Man or Woman We meet so many couples who say that they don’t have time for their relationship.  Of course, the statement is not as direct, but the communication has the same meaning.  Some common statements are: I am so tired when I get home, I just want to go to sleep. My work schedule is so busy, and we just don’t get around to spending time together. I have so many events to attend. My friends and I have gatherings weekly. We spend time together when we get around to it. Our focus is on the [...]

How to Date Economically in the DC Metropolitan Area  After a blistery winter, we are on our way to the first day of spring on March 20th. It’s time to start thinking about possible spring date locations for you and your mate.  Let’s work on getting our date on.  Dating does not always have to be expensive. There are definitely economical dates in the DC metropolitan area.  There is nothing like kicking off the season by taking your date to The National Cherry Blossom Festival.  The festival has daily events for you and your significant other to participate in. You can check [...]

Forgive | Definition of Forgive by Merriam-Webster www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgive Merriam-Webster 1 a : to give up resentment of or claim to requital for <forgive an insult> b : to grant relief from payment of <forgive a debt> 2 : to cease to feel resentment against (an offender) : pardon <forgive one’s enemies> Now that we have the definition of “Forgive”, let’s look at how we carry out forgiveness and gain a better understanding of what it is and isn’t. Forgiveness is: The process of breaking the attachment of negative emotions to a person or situation. This results in the relief of stress, anger, pain, [...]