Linda: According to Ellen Berscheid and Elaine Walster, passionate love is defined as “a wildly emotional state in which tender and sexual feelings, elation and pain, anxiety and relief, altruism and jealousy co-exist in a confusion…

One of the most frequent complaints we hear from our clients and students (and admittedly, it tends to be women who are voicing it) is that one partner is resistant to talking. Their complaints are “I can’t get him to open up. No matter what I do, I get nothing more than a one-word response. Sometimes I don’t…

One of the most frequent complaints we hear from our clients and students (and admittedly, it tends to be women who are voicing it) is that one partner is resistant to talking. Their complaints are “I can’t get him to open up. No matter what I do, I get nothing more than a one-word response. Sometimes I don’t…

Charlie: Several years ago, I attended a lecture by a well-known spiritual teacher and arrived twenty minutes late. On my way in I asked the doorman to give me a condensed version of what I’d missed. He paused for a moment then said two words:…

Complaints have gotten a bad rap in recent years. 

Many people equate complaining with whining, self-pity, and being “vicitimy”. While there can be elements of these qualities when irresponsible complaints are made, there is such a thing as responsible…

A key factor in the process of taking charge of your life has to do with having at least one person in your life with whom you share a desire to move through life at a rhythm set by you rather than one that is set by others. Taking control of the rate of movement of one’s life in the face of job, family, social, and…

What is it that extraordinarily happy couples are doing? 

Linda: One of the important things they are doing is checking in, which is…

One of the things that successful couples are doing that struggling couples are not doing enough of, is checking in. This simple practice can mean the difference between relationship fulfillment and relationship hell.

 …

"Lovers are those people between whom nothing habitual takes place, just what is new, unprecedented, unexpected. In such connections there exists an almost unbearable happiness. When we understand our lives correctly,…

“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” ~ Mother Teresa

Linda: The…

“Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~ …

Sarcasm comes from the Greek sarkasmos that means the tearing of flesh. The intention behind sarcasm may be to be humorous or playful, but there is frequently an element of poorly disguised hostility or judgment. When we grow up in families in which sarcasm is frequently used, there…

In our previous blog, we addressed the concept of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and the dangers of being possessed by this insidious condition. We are offering ten valuable practices to help to free you from the grip of FOMO and to enhance the quality of your relationships as well as the overall quality of…

Charlie: I’ve known my friend David for over twenty years, and we’ve always gotten along well. That’s due to the fact that we share a lot of common interests and values. Lately, though, David has developed a habit that has been driving me slightly crazy. Whenever I suggest that we do something…

Linda: Ginger and Tom came for marriage counseling as a result of the physical and emotional stress brought about by the recurrence of Ginger’s cancer. Her health condition had required her to hire household help in order to manage things that she could no longer handle. During their session, Ginger…

In the days when traveling vacuum cleaner salesmen roamed the land, one came to my home when I was a little girl and offered to demonstrate the miraculous qualities of the new Hoover.

“Mrs. Cooper”, he said, “this vacuum cleaner is world-class! The very best money can buy. It’s got…

Linda: When you do finally get over your resistance to talking about money? Where do you begin? There is no “correct” place to begin. It’s best not to begin with the difficult issues since you’ll need to practice on concerns that are easier…

For one human being to love another; that is perhaps the most difficult of all of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Charlie: Why is it that loving…

Linda: There is a strong consensus in the field of positive psychology that the number and depth of personal relationships has the greatest effect on happiness. The relationship where vast numbers of people derive that greatest…

Linda: Gratitude is acknowledging what we have. When cultivating the attitude of gratitude, we focus our attention on what we have rather than what we lack. When we are not comparing ourselves and our possessions to others, there…