-
Introvert/Extrovert Couples in Close Quarters March 31, 2021 . 1 Comment
Introvert/Extrovert Couples in Close Quarters: Some Coronavirus Tips The pandemic has been a time of extended isolation for everyone while we wait for vaccines, herd immunity, and some ... Read More
-
10 Communication Traps and How to Avoid Them December 14, 2020 . No Comments
By Dr. Jeffrey Chernin, PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 10 Communication Traps and How to Avoid Them Since I started practicing therapy over 25 years ago, the majority of couples ... Read More
-
Red Flags: Are You Being Emotionally Manipulated? September 17, 2019 . 24 Comments
Emotional manipulation can undermine close relationships and leave the manipulation victim feeling powerless, confused, and frustrated. Yet all people manipulate others from time to time—often ... Read More
-
Pitfalls and Possibilities on the Road to a Healthy Marriage July 10, 2019 . 2 Comments
Over my years as a therapist, I have enjoyed helping premarital couples as they prepare for marriage. One of the books I frequently recommend is John Gottman’s 2015 book, The Seven Principles ... Read More
-
Why Communication Skills Are Not Enough to Deepen Your Relationship June 19, 2018 . 1 Comment
As a clinician who enjoys working with couples, there’s a sweet satisfaction that comes from hearing partners, possibly for the first time, communicate with openness, vulnerability, ... Read More
-
How an Evaluation for Autism Can Reduce Anxiety in Your Relationship March 20, 2018 . 2 Comments
As a therapist working with neurodiverse couples in which one is autistic and the other neurotypical, I often encounter pairings in which one partner believes the other might be on the ... Read More
-
5 Ways ADHD Could Be Affecting Your Relationship February 6, 2018 . 4 Comments
In any relationship, there may be struggles with communication, expectations, and unmet needs. For relationships in which at least one of the partners has attention-deficit hyperactivity, ... Read More
-
Allowing Yourself to Ask for More: It Begins in the Therapy Room December 14, 2017 . 4 Comments
So, you’re in therapy, and it’s going well. You’ve established a good therapeutic relationship. You trust your therapist. You feel some symptom relief. You feel heard. Maybe you don’t ... Read More
-
How to Ruin Any Relationship December 6, 2017 . 2 Comments
Contempt is, by definition, a way of communicating superiority and disrespect. According to research by Dr. John Gottman, it is the best predictor of relationship demise (Gottman & ... Read More
-
Show Your Cards vs. Throw Your Cards: Deeper Couples Communication November 30, 2017 . 1 Comment
Clear communication is considered foundational in good relationships, but in relationships with close emotional ties, the ability to communicate with vulnerability is what creates intimacy ... Read More
-
Intention Isn’t Everything: 7 Ways to Inadvertently Invalidate Feelings October 25, 2017 . 9 Comments
Many of us are aware of the importance of validating other people’s feelings. We know recognizing and acknowledging feelings helps others to feel understood, valued, cared about, and ... Read More
-
Feeling Disconnected? 9 Ways to Communicate More Effectively October 10, 2017 . 4 Comments
Over the past 20 years, social media have taken the world by storm. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and text messaging are just a few of the many ways we now stay in touch with one another ... Read More