At the beginning of a relationship, it is common to have a high level of trust in your relationship. This means you have a strong sense of confidence that your partner has your best interests at heart. During this honeymoon phase, you often can Read More
Boundaries
22 Sep Is My Partner Having an Affair?
Question: Is my partner having an affair? I discovered some e-mails my partner has been exchanging with a woman at his work. He and this co-worker seem very close. I don't think he's having an actual affair, but I'm worried. What should I Read More
01 Jun The 3 A’s: Addictions, Affairs & Anger – Toxic to Relationships
Build your immunity to the three most common causes of relationship unhappiness. These deadly relationship behaviours are the 3A's, otherwise known as Addictions, Affairs, & Anger (which includes any acting out or unmanaged mental health Read More
12 Mar Is anger a force for good in your relationship?
Is anger a force for good in your relationship? What happened when you last got angry? Was it a positive experience, or not? When you grew up, how did your family handle anger? How did your partner’s family deal with anger? Clinical psychologist Read More
14 Sep Three Myths About Happy Couples
There are so many myths about happy couples that they can’t even be called myths. Some people believe them as if they’re facts. Read how clearly Kathy McMahon dispels three of these ingrained myths. I’ve expanded on and adapted her wise Read More
06 Aug The Truth About Lasting Relationships
If you want to make sure your relationship lasts, and who doesn't want lasting relationships, there is one thing you need to ask a prospective mate. But what is that? Here is my adaptation for Australian readers of what Michele Weiner-Davis has to Read More
24 Jun I Love You But I’m Not In Love With You
I love you but I’m not in love with you. I can’t tell you how frequently I hear these words in my relationship counselling practice! I understand them to mean something like: “Is this relationship really over or does my unhappiness mean that Read More
26 May Rethinking Infidelity…A Talk For Anyone Who Has Ever Loved
A TED Talk by Sex Therapist Esther Perel. Esther Perel totally inspired me with her stunning and beautifully written book "Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence". Her ideas and methods of working with intimacy and eroticism in Read More
10 Mar How to Apologize Effectively
Knowing how to apologize effectively can help restore lost trust and wellbeing in your relationship. Trust that is violated brings pain to both partners. For the hurt partner, feelings of betrayal can trigger a deluge of toxic thoughts and emotions. Read More
15 Dec Painful Holidays: Three Challenging Situations and How to Manage Them
Holidays mean good cheer and family get togethers for many, celebrating our most important relationships, enjoying good food and each other’s companionship. But for some, the holidays can be a struggle because of painful or challenging Read More