As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve and weave itself into the fabric of daily life, its effects on communication and emotional intimacy in romantic relationships are becoming increasingly noteworthy.

While AI offers a range of conveniences—from automating tasks to providing emotional support—it also presents challenges that can alter how partners connect and communicate with one another.

This post delves into the dual-edged nature of AI in relationships, exploring its impact on emotional intimacy, trust, and strategies for couples to maintain genuine connection in the age of intelligent technology.

In today's hyper-connected world, social media isn't just a way to stay in touch with friends or share life updates—it has become a backdrop for how we perceive and experience relationships.

While it offers opportunities for connection and expression, it also poses significant challenges to trust and emotional intimacy in romantic relationships.

The way couples navigate their digital presence and online interactions can profoundly affect their bond, sometimes in ways that are subtle but deeply impactful.

In this post, we’ll explore how social media can challenge trust, impact emotional intimacy, and offer strategies to maintain healthy boundaries and connection.

Economic factors have always played a role in shaping American intimate relationships, but the recent surge in economic inequality presents new challenges that are deeply affecting modern couples.

Financial stress doesn’t just impact bank accounts—it seeps into the very fabric of relationships, affecting connection, trust, and long-term stability.

In this post, we’ll explore how economic inequality and financial stress affect intimate relationships, their impact on parenting, and practical strategies couples can use to face these challenges together.

In the age of remote work and digital flexibility, many couples are finding that the lines between work and home life have become dangerously blurred.

While the convenience of working from home has been a blessing for many, it also brings unique challenges that impact relationships in profound ways.

One of the most pressing issues today is the erosion of work-life boundaries, which can lead to emotional exhaustion and diminished connection between partners.

In this post, we'll explore how these blurred lines contribute to burnout and how they also affect parenting. Finally, we’ll offer a few ideas on how couples can navigate these challenges while preserving intimacy and family harmony.

As a marriage and family therapist, I’ve come to appreciate the complexities that accompany long-term relationships and the challenges that arise when these partnerships unravel.

In recent years, one significant trend has emerged with implications for the emotional and cognitive health of aging adults: gray divorce.

This term refers to the dissolution of marriages among those aged 50 and older, a phenomenon that has been steadily increasing and, with it, raising pressing questions about the future well-being of those involved.

The United States is heading into an election season unlike any other, and that’s saying something.

The past few years have conditioned Americans to expect a certain amount of chaos—political clashes, cultural upheavals, and economic uncertainties have become as routine as morning coffee.

But 2024 promises not just the storm, but the tempest.

And regardless of who wins, the outcome is likely to bring with it the most significant mental health crisis the nation has ever seen.

If that sounds dramatic, it’s because it is. And it should be.

Americans are already grappling with escalating rates of anxiety, depression, and stress, fueled by political polarization and socio-economic strains. Now, we’re heading into an election that feels like a pressure cooker set to explode.

The irony? No matter which side of the aisle you're on, you're probably already pre-disappointed with the outcome.

Couples are not islands; each person comes into a relationship carrying layers of societal expectations about gender roles, success, and family structures.

Research suggests that these external influences affect our beliefs and behaviors more than we realize, subtly guiding decisions and interactions within relationships.

For example, a study published in Family Relations found that traditional gender roles heavily influence how couples perceive power and decision-making, often contributing to hidden stressors in marriages (Braverman et al., 2020).

Yet, these external pressures are rarely dissected in therapy. The oversight is likely due to therapy’s focus on the couple as a unit rather than as individuals enmeshed in a broader societal matrix.

Couples may not even realize how much these expectations color their relationship dynamics—leading to unexplored resentment or stress that festers below the surface.

Political bias – every American’s favorite blind spot.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get juicier, new research says ideological bias is like a messy breakup: it gets way worse when you’re not the one calling the shots.

Turns out, when your political team isn’t in power, your dislike for “the other side” heats up faster than Thanksgiving leftovers.

So, are conservatives or progressives more biased?

According to this study, it’s not that simple. The real answer: It all depends on who’s currently in power.

Scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, you might assume that all those meticulously curated selfies and life updates come from a place of ego.

But a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science reveals a twist in this assumption: self-centered folks use social media more out of a fear of missing out (FOMO) than a desire to boost their self-image.

In fact, they are more motivated by a sense of vulnerability than by confidence.

This fresh perspective challenges the stereotype of self-centered social media users as simply seeking attention.

Instead, the research suggests they are actually seeking reassurance—trying to fill an emotional gap rather than flaunting their lives.

What if certain “dark” personality traits could actually help us navigate mental health challenges?

According to a recent study in the Journal of Personality, the Dark Triad traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—don’t just create difficulties for others; they also shape how we cope with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress.

The Dark Triad has always been associated with social abrasiveness and manipulative behavior, but this study suggests that these traits’ influence on mental health is more complex.

The findings challenge the conventional view of these traits as purely destructive, revealing that each has a unique relationship with mental health, with narcissism even offering some surprising emotional resilience.

Once upon a time, premarital counseling was mostly for couples in crisis or for those who belonged to certain religious traditions. But these days, therapy before marriage is the trend.

Generation after generation, people have begun seeing premarital counseling not as a red flag, but as a “relationship tune-up,” a toolkit to build foundations for the modern marriage.

So, how did the attitude shift from “don’t air your dirty laundry” to “let’s talk it out before we hit turbulence”? Today, millennials and Gen Z aren’t just warming to premarital counseling—they’re embracing it as a vital step toward long-lasting, happy marriages.

Why Premarital Counseling? Why Now?

The internet has given rise to countless memes, many of which resonate deeply with specific communities.

One recent example is the "Autism Creature" meme—also known as the "TBH Creature" or simply "Yippee."

This quirky, four-legged character, often depicted with a neutral expression and white, blob-like form, has become a symbol of connection, humor, and identity within the autistic community.

For many, the Autism Creature brings a sense of lightheartedness to an experience that can often feel challenging or misunderstood.

Let’s explore the origins of this meme, why it resonates with the neurodiverse community, and what its popularity says about self-expression in the digital age.