BLOG
- Attachment Issues
- Coronavirus
- Couples Therapy
- Extramarital Affairs
- Family Life and Parenting
- How to Fight Fair
- Inlaws and Extended Families
- Intercultural Relationships
- Marriage and Mental Health
- Married Life & Intimate Relationships
- Neurodiverse Couples
- Separation & Divorce
- Signs of Trouble
- Social Media and Relationships
- What Happy Couples Know
What is a CSA Survivor?
"What is a CSA survivor?" This crucial question addresses the experiences of folks who endured Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) and its profound impact on their adult lives, especially within intimate relationships.
I've seen firsthand the complexities and challenges that CSA survivors face in their romantic partnerships.
This blog post considers the long-lasting effects of CSA, how these issues manifest in couples therapy, and strategies for fostering healing and intimacy.
10 sure-fire ways to curb doom scrolling for marital happiness
\
Doom scrolling is the compulsive consumption of problem-saturated media content.
The scroll describes the endless feed of posts, memes, and articles many of which feed our plugged-in brains with doom, gloom, and drama.
This intense information that is readily available on your screens pulls you out of your current realities. It can cause us to neglect our own self-care.
The anxiety-producing and addictive nature of doom scrolling might be taking a toll on your marital happiness, too…
New study links body temperature to depression: implications for treatment
The most extensive study yet on body temperature and depression has revealed that folks with depression tend to have higher body temperatures, suggesting that cooling the body might be a potential treatment for depression.
10 breakthrough treatments for depression most folks have never tried
As a couples therapist, I understand that depression can have a profound impact on relationships, affecting not just the individual but their partner and the dynamics between them.
Clinical depression affects around 350 million people worldwide, yet only a small fraction receive the best care.
Here, I'll outline 10 new, scientifically backed treatments for depression, emphasizing their potential benefits for folks within a relationship context.
Are you zoning out while visiting your childhood home?
A few days ago my client Harry, a 30-something show-runner, found himself in a peculiar situation during a recent visit to his emotionally distant elderly parents.
His wife, Marjorie, recounted how Harry seemed to zone out and suddenly seemed to ‘wake up’ in the middle of an argument with her about his missing their agreed-upon curfew to leave.
I've seen this scenario play out many times, often stemming from dissociation linked to traumatic or emotionally constipated childhoods.
Let's consider the concept of dissociation, how our childhood experiences can trigger it, and best practices to improve situational awareness when revisiting your childhood home.
Roman Catholic Eroticism and the Theology of the Body
When one thinks of Roman Catholicism, images of grand cathedrals, incense-filled rituals, and Latin hymns might come to mind.
But what about Roman Catholic eroticism? Yes, you read that right.
As a couples therapist, I recently had the privilege of working with a couple set exploring the paradigm of Roman Catholic eroticism. Although I was a bit taken aback, I found fascinating insights into the interplay between faith, love, and intimacy.
Jewish Eroticism: a celebration of the sensual and the sacred.
It is a rich tapestry of cultural, religious, and historical influences that celebrate the sanctity of the body and the sacredness of desire.
Jewish eroticism has deep historical and religious foundations. It is a celebration of the sensual and the sacred.
The long-term impact of antidepressants on quality of life
While antidepressants are known to reduce depression symptoms in the short term, their long-term effects on overall quality of life are less clear.
Recent research suggests that antidepressants may not significantly improve quality of life over time.
A long-term analysis comparing folks with depression who took antidepressants to those who did not reveals that, after two years, there is no notable difference in their quality of life.
How antidepressants affect your ability to enjoy activities you once loved
Antidepressants can be a double-edged sword. While they help alleviate the psychological pain of depression, they can also dull the pleasure from activities that once brought joy.
This phenomenon, known as "emotional blunting," affects about half of all patients on these medications. Let's dive into why this happens and how it impacts everyday life.
How do antidepressants influence memory bias in depression?
Here’s the nub of the problem: Depressed folks often remember negative events more vividly than positive ones.
This cognitive bias can significantly impact their overall view of themselves and their lives.
However, a recent study suggests that antidepressants may help counteract this tendency by reducing the bias towards negative memories.
The power of belief: How presentation affects antidepressant efficacy
Did you know that the effectiveness of antidepressants might hinge more on belief than on the pill itself?
Research reveals that 3X as many people respond positively to antidepressants if they believe the drug will work.
This intriguing finding underscores the significant role of expectations in treating depression and anxiety.
The amazing new science behind a long-term relationship
In later life, a good marriage is highly protective of your mental and physical health.
But a bad marriage characterized by bickering and nagging will have the opposite effect.
The older we get, the more the quality of our long-term relationship impacts our overall quality of life.