How to Save a Failing Relationship: 8 Tips

Saving a Failing Relationship

If you’ve been involved in romantic relationships that have come to an end, you are likely familiar with that feeling you get when you realize things are going south. Maybe you and your partner spent time trying to fix the relationship to no avail. It’s difficult and even painful to watch your relationship struggle and…

Considering Relationship Therapy? Here’s What to Expect

couple holding hands

In the early months of a relationship, it can seem like nothing can go wrong. Why wouldn’t you both be head over heels for each other forever? No matter what comes up, there’s nothing you can’t get through, right? While that may indeed be true, however that head over heels part isn’t meant to last…

What is the Split Attraction Model?

Split Attraction

According to the split attraction model, how someone experiences attraction can be split into categories. For some people romantic and sexual attraction are distinctly different experiences. The split attraction model recognizes that sexual and romantic orientations are not the same for some people. This paradigm recognizes that people can experience sexual and romantic attraction differently.[1]…

Stockholm Syndrome: Why Victims Sympathize With Their Captors

Stockholm syndrome

We have all heard horror stories of kidnappings and hostage situations where victims suffer horrible ordeals. What we don’t expect to hear from such victims is expressions of sympathy or appreciation for their captors. But Stockholm syndrome describes exactly that kind of reaction. It is a survival strategy where hostage or abuse victims develop feelings of…

The Benefits of Long-Distance Relationships

Long-Distance Relationships

Conventional wisdom tells us that it’s a bad idea to get involved in a long-distance relationship. However, research has illustrated that this notion may no longer be correct. In fact, up to 75% of college students and nearly 3 million adult couples live apart every year. Studies are showing people who engage in long-distance relationships…

Is Genetic Sexual Attraction a Real Thing?

man and woman holding hands

Genetic sexual attraction refers to the notion that a powerful sexual attraction can develop between blood relatives that initially meet as adults.  This type of reunion could result from family members who were separated by adoption, immigration, or who were conceived via sperm or egg donation. The term, genetic sexual attraction, was created in the…

Why Do I Miss My Ex?

missing ex

Relationships should come with a rule book, or at least with a comprehensive “how to” guide. It would be quite helpful to refer back to an all-knowing relationship manual when faced with a romantic dilemma.  Unfortunately, no such manual exists and instead, we are left to rely solely on our intuition, judgment, and vulnerable hearts….

7 Tips for Dealing with Frustration

muscle ache

Frustration is an emotion everyone can relate to. However, it is an emotion that is pretty vague. Are you exasperated, upset, disappointed, let down, irritated, or perturbed? Being frustrated leaves a lot to the imagination. In order to understand what someone is actually feeling when they say they are frustrated, it helps to look at…

Are You Together But Still Lonely?

lonely couple

Restaurants have always been a prime location for people watching.  You can tell a whole lot about a couple’s relationship by watching them have dinner together.  Does the couple make eye contact, or do they barely look at each other?  Are they engaged in conversation and listening to each other or are they constantly checking…

Not Everyone Wants to be Hugged: The Science Behind Huggers and Non-Huggers

hugging

We all have people in our lives who are “huggers”. Some come right out and say, “I’m a hugger!” as their arms are already wrapping around you. Others don’t give very much of a warning! Hugs, while comforting for some, can be very overwhelming for others, and researchers have been attempting to discover the reasons…

Ways to Give Comfort If You Have Hurt Your Partner

couple make-up

When in a relationship with someone, it is inevitable that at some point, you will be hurt by your partner. It is also inevitable that at some point, you will do the hurting. Whether it is intentional or unintentional, it is difficult and painful when one partner hurts the other person. When you are the…

What Are The Powerful Components Of A Successful Relationship?

Serial Monogamy

Relationships can be thought of as a complex recipe. There are certain ingredients that are essential to produce a delicious, high quality dish. When cooking or baking, it is important to follow directions and abide by the measurements that are set forth by the recipes. If you happen to have the wrong ingredients, missing ingredients, or the…

How to Identify and Deal with Passive-Aggressive People

passive aggressive

People who are passive-aggressive can be difficult to deal with and at times leave you with a lot of questions. Did I do something wrong? Are they upset with me or am I reading into too much? Is it just me or do things seem off? Those questions can leave us almost feeling crazy because…

Can Alcohol Effect Your Relationships?

alcohol relationship

Things taken or experienced in moderation are unlikely to have a significant impact.  Eating ice cream or a favorite desert every once in awhile is not likely to have a major effect on a person’s weight.  It would be unexpected that pulling an all-nighter for a final exam would have a serious impact on sleep. …

Why Is Ghosting So Painful?

ghosting

A popular radio segment called “Blown Off” airs every morning on 95.5 PLJ.  The purpose of this segment is to help a listener make contact with a person they recently dated and have not heard back from.  Every morning, in case listeners have never heard the segment before, the boisterous announcers explain the purpose of…

How to Spot a Misogynist

misogyny

From a young age, we are taught to treat others as we would like to be treated. Unfortunately, some children miss the memo and go on to treat others very poorly. Children progress through various developmental stages on their way to maturity. In preschool and elementary school, kids are primarily interested in same sex friendships….

What is Premarital Counseling & Why Is It Important?

premarital therapy

Premarital counseling is the kind of counseling couples might engage in prior to getting married. This type of counseling can differ from couple to couple and therapist to therapist. Even the topics and intensity of premarital counseling can vary. For most people, premarital counseling involves conversations guided by a therapist with their soon-to-be spouse on…

Abusers and Traumatic Bonding-What You Need To Know

traumatic relationship

Relationships are a complicated thing.  Sometimes it seems as if we have little control over who we fall in love with.  Our hearts may urge us directly towards someone, while paradoxically, our heads are screaming at us to run for the hills.  If some pairings are matches made in heaven, their counterparts are matches made…

Effects of Positive Punishment Techniques

punishment

If you have ever done potty training for a toddler, behavior training for a dog, or even had cheat meals while dieting, you have engaged in a technique called operant conditioning. It involves learning and altering certain behaviors by utilizing reinforcement and punishment. If you are teaching a dog to not pull on the leash…

What is Emotional Abuse? And How Can it Effect You?

emotional abuse

Abuse has been defined as referring to “harmful or injurious treatment of another human being that may include physical, sexual, verbal, psychological/emotional, intellectual, or spiritual maltreatment.” While more physical forms of abuse may be easier to identify and understand, the concept of emotional or psychological abuse is something that can be hard to pinpoint due…

How to Survive an Overbearing Mother

mother kissing her baby

Mothers are fiercely protective and use their intuition and maternal instincts to guide and nurture their young.  Mothers attempt to teach their children survival mechanisms so that they can be fully functioning, successful, and independent members of society.  As their children grow and develop, mothers attempt to foster their emotional and intellectual growth, instill morals…

Dating Someone Who Struggles With PTSD

dating ptsd

Dating is hard. It’s hard enough to find someone that you can connect with, have similar interests, ideals, and values with, and someone you’re attracted to! Adding medical and mental health conditions into the algorithm of dating can be difficult and is a process that people must navigate when considering a long-term relationship (LTR). Dating…

What is Social Comparison Theory and How Does it Affect You?

social media

In this day and age, social media has become a necessity, a way of life, as opposed to a fun way to pass idle time.  Local law enforcement utilizes Facebook to catch criminals, businesses use Twitter to promote themselves, and products are featured and sold on You Tube.  In addition to these logistical purposes, more…

If I Hate My Life, What Does It Say about My Relationships?

person alone

No one’s life is perfect. However, some people appear to “have it all figured out.” They seem successful and happy. In reality, everyone struggles and no one’s life is perfect. That being said, while no one and no lives are perfect, each individual experiences moments (and hopefully plenty) of love, happiness, joy, and rejuvenation. You…