Do I Have A Pornography Problem?
I was talking recently with a few friends about my role as a therapist and the general nature of the difficulties that people present with. One of the questions they asked was how I as a therapist assess and measure whether or not a client is dabbling in pornography or addicted to pornography. I replied […]
What Is It Most Women Really Want?
Many of my clients, both men and women, come to counseling seeking understanding and curbing of symptoms in their marriages and/or families. Most have their own stories, own perceptions, and own histories. Human beings are complex individuals with relationship histories and pasts that make each one of us all our own. As I have worked with […]
Helicopter Grandparenting: When Helping Becomes Hovering and Harming
I recently had a couple in my office for a variety of issues. We initially started to dialogue and generate some solutions concerning some significant problems they were facing. Their problem began long before their marriage, as I will explain, but had become an acute issue that was taxing their relationship and marriage as well […]
Sexual Addiction & Brain Arousal – Neurobiology of Internet Porn
I’ve seen a consistent theme with clients that present to my office with sexual addiction. This theme is a significant confusion about how they get their needs met. I find that many if not all of them come with beliefs and assumptions due to their addiction and history. These assumptions are in large part due […]
Emotional Codependency in Marriage and Parenting Relationships
Codependency has typically been associated or understood to be a dynamic that occurs with individuals that are addicted to substances and their partners or spouses. Today the phenomenon we call codependency can be associated with those that are in fact not using substances of any kind. Mothers and children, husbands and wives, friends and associates […]
Relationships and Perception: Are You Sure?
I work with individuals and couples weekly that seek help in my office for relationship challenges. Some arrive due to issues of trust and infidelity while others are seeking answers to issues that stem from their families they grew up in. Most individuals, healthy or not, seem to battle or engage in a phenomenon that […]
Healthy Relationships & Ways of Being
People are complex individuals with their histories, hopes, and habits. When two individuals come together in any relationship, married or not, they are combining two unique lives to form something complex yet beautiful. The assumptions and beliefs of both of those individuals also come together to influence the relationship. It’s important to honor that with […]
Infidelity: Marriage Meltdown After An Affair
When Betrayal Breaks the Bond I recently heard a client ask, “I feel completely betrayed after finding out about my husband’s affair. Does it even make sense to do counseling if my spouse had an affair? Isn’t it over?” Betrayal and broken trust are among the most difficult obstacles any couple can face, and they […]
Strengthening Relationships Through Family Traditions and Rituals
With the holiday season approaching, countless events become abuzz with holiday parties, church and social events, and family dinners typical for the season. These events serve many purposes and when understood more clearly enhance, solidify, and safeguard your relationships and overall emotional health. Rituals are activities that couples and families create that occur on a […]
Does Marriage Counseling Work: What The Research Says
Many couples wonder if marriage counseling actually works, and some question whether real change is even possible. If therapy were as straightforward as a routine maintenance check, the answer would be simple. The truth is, relationships can be both uncomplicated and deeply layered depending on each partner’s history, current circumstances, and genuine willingness to grow. […]