Because many men do not discuss feelings as easily as most women do, wives are often shocked when their husband actually voices his desire to separate or divorce. They might have suspected that their spouse wasn’t entirely happy, but they didn’t think he’d ever be the one to end the marriage. Read more »
What to Do When a Spouse Flirts Too Much
When Alicia first met Tim, she found him outgoing, charming, and easy to talk to. She thought he was very witty and funny, always the life of the party with everyone gathered around him. Yes, he flirted a lot, but while he was talking, he’d turn to wink at her, take her hand, or put [...] Read more »
What to Do When Your Spouse Won’t Talk
How to get a spouse’s attention so that he or she will talk with you is an issue that mystifies many couples. Spouses report trying many techniques, such as trying to talk rationally and logically, watching to see when a spouse is in a good mood, and waiting for a time when the television is [...] Read more »
How to Keep Hope Alive During a Marriage Crisis
During a marriage crisis, you can feel like your whole world is falling apart and all of your dreams are being shattered. Hearing the words “I don’t love you anymore,” “I want a divorce,” or “I don’t know if I want to stay married” can leave you reeling from the shock. Read more »
Ten Lies That Can Contribute to an Unhappy Marriage
Have you ever wondered why you have an unhappy marriage? If so, you’re not alone. Many spouses are struggling with the same question. At least part of the answer may lie in the words you use in your self-talk and in what you say to your spouse. And what you believe, the lies you tell [...] Read more »
Is There A Martyr In Your Marriage?
Does the following scenario sound familiar? Your spouse asks you if you’d mind staying with the kids while he plays golf with a friend on Saturday. You had been looking forward to having several hours to go shopping by yourself that day, but without even hesitating, you reply “Sure, that’s fine. I can go shopping [...] Read more »
How to Build Rapport with Your Spouse
Do you wish that you had better rapport with your spouse? Are you at a loss for what to do to increase communication and emotional intimacy? To begin building better communication and rapport with your spouse, start in his (or her) world first—enter his world and start where he is right now. Ways to build [...] Read more »
How to Cope When Your Spouse is Depressed
Living with a depressed spouse can be extremely stressful for the partner and other family members. Communication is impacted, the couple’s social life suffers, and feelings of satisfaction with the marriage decrease. Here are fifteen ways to cope and keep your sanity and bearings when your spouse is depressed: Read more »
Why Retaliation Affairs Only Make Things Worse
It’s not unusual for a spouse whose partner has had an affair to have a “get even” or “retaliation affair.” The feelings of betrayal and the emotional pain are so devastating that the spouse may want to hurt the partner like he (or she) has been hurt. Read more »
How Depression Can Threaten Your Marriage
In my work through the years as a counselor, I’ve talked with many depressed individuals. I’ve also had personal experience with depression myself and know firsthand how debilitating it can be. Read more »
How the Law of Attraction Affects Your Marriage
Which of the following sayings have you heard before? “What you sow, you reap.” “What comes around goes around.” “What you give, you get back.” “Like attracts like.” These sayings are all different ways to express the Law of Attraction that’s always in operation in every area of your life. According to the Law of [...] Read more »
How to Cope with a Spouse’s Negative Attitude
Is your spouse a negative person? Does he or she consistently zero in on what’s wrong with you and the marriage while overlooking the many positives? When I first talked to “Leigh” (not her real name), she was ready to leave her marriage because of her husband’s constant negativity. “Al” was a master at finding [...] Read more »
Give Your Spouse Space to Breathe and Grow
When you’re married, the boundaries between yourself and your spouse aren’t always clear. For some people, marriage brings the expectation of spending as much time as possible with a spouse and doing most things together. In this model of marriage, the two people generally function as a single unit in thought and actions. Read more »
How to Handle Control Issues That Cause Marriage Problems
Control issues cause problems in many marriages. Have you ever been irritated because your spouse does things differently than you do? Do you get upset if he or she has different opinions and makes different choices than you would? If so, you have bumped up against some of your own personal control issues and triggers [...] Read more »
Can a Marriage Separation Ever Save a Marriage?
As an experienced counselor, one of the questions I’m asked frequently is, can a marriage separation ever save a marital relationship? My answer is a qualified yes. Sometimes a couple is miserable living together and can’t seem to co-exist without having constant harping and bickering. If they have children, they may worry about the impact [...] Read more »