By: Brynne Kessler, MFT John Gottman’s research reflects: couples who stay together the longest are those who allow each other to be influenced by another. In other words, it is important to remain open to your partner’s perspective. As a couple’s therapist, I often witness couples get stuck in the communication challenge of needing to be […]

Finding ways to care for ourselves in times of stress is critical to support our mental health. But sometimes when we are overwhelmed it can be difficult to identify what would help us feel better. That’s why I often recommend my clients create a self-care playbook to take some of the work out of brainstorming […]

Are you or your partner considering opening up your relationship? Even though open relationships aren’t often talked about, they are becoming more popular. Today, somewhere between 4% and 9% of adults in the US are non-monogamous, and 1 in 5 Americans say they’ve experienced an open partnership. Keep reading to get a better understanding of how non-monogamy works, […]

How often do you and your partner have sex? A couple’s sex life can be an important indicator of how healthy their relationship is. So if you or your partner are struggling with low desire or libido, it could be stemming from unrelated factors that you don’t even know about. Keep reading our helpful guide […]

Have you ever heard of emotional intelligence? Just like everything in life, your relationships take skill and knowledge to work. If you’re not well-equipped, you can quickly run into difficulties and maintaining healthy relationships will be tough! One of the most important skills to learn and understand is emotional intelligence. For relationships, from romantic connections […]

Recovering from sexual trauma can be incredibly hard. It can take time for you to feel like yourself again and even longer for you to be able to rid yourself of the fear your trauma has caused. But, it’s not impossible. Unfortunately, there are countless stories of sexual trauma, but they do show that recovery […]

The time after the birth of a new baby is often difficult for new parents. They’re experiencing a lack of sleep, having less time to themselves, and dealing with various hormonal changes. It can be hard for new parents to be intimate, resulting in them not having sex for extended periods of time. If you […]

In relationships, it’s normal for each person to have their own strengths and weaknesses. When you find the right partner, you’ll complement each other so you both grow as better people. However, there is a fine line you can cross where your relationship goes from dependent to codependent. If this happens, it might be unhealthy […]

Social media has changed nearly every aspect of our everyday lives. From the way we communicate with our friends and family to the amount of time we spend on screens, there’s no doubt that the world has looked more different than ever since the invention of social media. Popular channels like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram […]

By now, you’ve likely heard of the terms “gaslighting” and “ghosting.” These are dating terms that have entered the mainstream lexicon thanks to the popularity of dating apps like Bumble and Hinge. Another term that’s been making the rounds lately is “breadcrumbing.” But even if you don’t know what breadcrumbing is, you may very well be experiencing […]

As a relational therapist, I often come across variations of this mind reading statement when working with couples,  “If they really loved me, they would just know what I need.” This assumption usually comes to light when I’m exploring frustrations that exist within a relationship. They are due to unmet needs. Furthermore, when I start […]

Studies show that 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. If you’re looking at relationships in general, the breakup rate is much higher. In some cases, the people in the relationship shouldn’t be together, and breaking up is a good thing. However, there are tons of couples that could be truly happy and content if […]