News Articles

Use these 5 strategies for more productive disagreements. By Seth J. Gillihan Ph.D. Courtesy of Psychology Today No matter how strong your romantic relationship is, at some point you’re going to have disagreements. And while never arguing is an unrealistic goal, arguing better is an essential one. Thankfully all of us can improve the quality of our communication, including the way we argue. In my recent discussion with communication specialist Oren Jay Sofer on the Think Act Be podcast, I asked for his guidance on how we can communicate more effectively. He noted the following five principles for transforming our [...]

By Steven Stosny, Ph.D. Courtesy of Psychology Today It turns toddler love into fulfilling mature connection. We fall in love in the Toddler brain, the emotional, impulsive, and volatile limbic system, which reaches structural maturity by age 3. We stay in love in the profoundest and most stable part of the Adult brain — the prefrontal cortex, which reaches full myelination at around 28. Toddler love is filled with wonder and joy at first, but inevitably reeks of conflict and pain due to its self-obsession and inability to see other people’s perspectives. Adult love rises from our deepest, most humane values of [...]

Healthy relationships are available to everyone, you just need to know what they require to exist. Here are five things that all healthy relationships require: By Ruby Fremon, Contributor Courtesy of Huff Post Toxic. Abusive. Destructive. Unhealthy. These aren't words that we'd want to associate with relationships, yet so many of us have experienced this or are still experiencing this. Why? This is a question I used to ask myself often... I was that girl. The one caught in a string of toxic, abusive, destructive and downright unhealthy relationships. I would commit the same mistakes over and over again, barely [...]

Learning to break free from love addiction By Ann Smith Courtesy of Psychology Today Here's a Quick Quiz: Did you once think that if only someone loved you in that "special way" you would be happy for the rest of your life? Were you/Are you pre-occupied with the notions of love as expressed in music, movies and fiction? Have you ever tried to talk yourself into loving someone you weren't particularly fond of because you needed the love NOW? Have you felt the need to prop up or do a total makeover on your partner early on in your relationship [...]

By Abby Rodman Courtesy of Huffington Post Because emotional abuse has become such a popular topic in the self-help and psychology fields, you may already be familiar with some of its signs, which may include withdrawal of affection, name-calling, and control. But if you suspect you’re in an emotionally abusive relationship, you may be so immersed in it that you can’t read the very destructive handwriting on the wall. Emotional abuse becomes, in a sense, your blurred normal. The term “emotional abuse” is thrown around a lot these days and that’s a dangerous thing. To respect its victims, we have [...]

By Jason Whiting Courtesy of the Institue for Family Studies Imagine you see a beautiful bouquet of roses. They are striking, taking your breath away. You draw closer, and with each fine detail of color, fragrance, and texture you become more enchanted. Not caring about the price, they become yours. Your happiness is real, but after bringing them home, you get distracted by a pile of work, dirty dishes, and Instagram alerts calling your name. Instead of trimming, watering, and placing the bouquet in a vase, you leave them on the counter. By the time you remember them, they are [...]

By Beverly D. Flaxington Courtesy of Psychology Today Have you ever experienced that over the moon sensation when you find out he/she loves you? Those words mean the world—“I love you”. Your heart races, your stomach flutters and you finally find comfort in knowing you matter. It doesn’t have to be a lover—it can be positive feedback from your boss (“You did a great job!”) or a friend (“You are the best friend I have ever had!”) Or it can be a parent who might be older and ailing who finally says “I always loved you even though I didn’t [...]

by Terra Marquette Courtesy of Study Finds In this season of giving and getting, the findings are in. It is more blessed to give than to receive. According to two new studies conducted by researchers with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, giving to others rather than to ourselves makes us happier. Have you ever noticed that your enjoyment in a repeated activity or event decreases over time no matter how wonderful it is? When this happens, you are experiencing what researchers call hedonic adaptation. The joy of having our own desires met is always fleeting. Perhaps surprisingly, however, [...]

The data is clear: you’ll live longer, stay saner, get richer, and be happier. By Maggie Gallagher, Courtesy of City Journal When Americans debate the value of marriage, most attention focuses on the potential harm to children of divorce or illegitimacy, and for good reason. Mountains of research tell us that children reared outside of intact marriages are much more likely than other kids to slip into poverty, become victims of child abuse, fail at school and drop out, use illegal drugs, launch into premature sexual activity, become unwed teen mothers, divorce, commit suicide and experience other signs of mental [...]

... and why it matters so, so much. By Jill P. Weber Ph.D. Courtesy of Psychology Today. What if the world married a little smarter? What would it look like? How would the mental and emotional health of our children improve? How much more productive, connected, and peaceful would it be? The reality is healthy marriages have the ability to make us happier and even physically healthier. Children who grow up with parents who love and care for one another are protected from a range of problems including social and emotional issues, learning and educational issues, and even some physical [...]