As a couples therapist, I don’t worry about the couples who sometimes fight, I worry about the ones who are too apathetic to fight. It is usually a sign one or both members of the couple have checked out of the relationship. Even in the best and happiest relationships, there is conflict. It’s inevitable, like death and taxes. The key to a healthy relationship, though, is to learn to manage the conflict. One of the things I like to do with new couples is to establish some rules or boundaries at the start of our work together. These are the rules of fair fighting. These rules are not original to me, you can find some version of them all over the internet. But, they are certainly a good starting point, and they are often not intuitive to couples embroiled in conflict.

The eyes are a pretty incredible part of our bodies. We can express so much through our eyes without ever saying a word. Staring into someone’s eyes can be a very intimate experience that helps you feel closer to them. This is true of romantic partners, but it is not exclusive to romantic partners.

Persons in the LGBTQ+ community can face inner and outer battles to either express their true selves or fake a “normal” lifestyle to appease those around them. They might avoid fear and ridicule in the moment, but risk further damage to their overall mental health from hiding their true identity.

Did you know that a woman’s chance of getting pregnant each month is about 25% or less.  At least that is what I remember the doctor telling me.  It had been almost six months with no period when my OB/GYN said something like: “Yup, you are not ovulating.  I’m going to send you across the hall to a specialist. Questions?”

This is the time of year that a lot of people spend with family. Truth be told, it’s probably a mixed bag. In the best of circumstances, family time can make us feel loved, accepted, and safe. But for some, family is the cause of many of our wounds.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that you probably don’t appreciate all the blessings in your life. Or is that just me? I get upset at small things, lose track of what matters, and have trouble being thankful even when my life is full of goodness. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not a fan of pretending everything is peachy when it isn’t. Toxic positivity is, well, toxic.