Trust issues are characterized by fears of betrayal, abandonment, and manipulation. Many of us fall victim to betrayal, abandonment, and/or manipulation—whether it’s at the hand of our partners, our parents (or their significant others), or even our doctors—and become traumatized as a result. For example: Sandra’s husband just got home…
Whether they’re single or married, people tend to idealize their own relationship status when they feel that it’s not going to change. This natural bias can lead to relational prejudice, judging the coupled or solo lifestyle of others. Singlism is discrimination against unmarried people, like when they’re not included in…
You can still have date night when your partner suffers from depression or anxiety–just change your expectations. Meet your partner where they are by taking their symptoms into account. You can take a walk, cook a meal at home, or engage your senses with music. With this guide to romancing…
Let’s face it: relationships are hard sometimes. Once the honeymoon phase passes, everyday things like chores around the house, how late you get home from work, and whose turn it is to walk the dog become bigger feats than they need to be. The spark that brought you together is…
Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hi, my name is Emily Simonian and I’m a Licensed Clinician at Thriveworks in Washington DC. The question that was asked was, “What keeps a marriage healthy during COVID-19?” And my first thought is what keeps a marriage or any relationship healthy even on…
Personally, I’ve contributed to a daily blog called “Ask the Therapist” for nearly 10 years. Each month, around 2,500 questions are submitted by people all across the world. The problems submitted deal with a wide variety of issues, some extremely heartbreaking. I’ve had questions from a young woman in the…
Marriage is a major commitment, and many of us wonder how we’ll ever know the time is right—a few signs can help us find clarity. First, true love, dedication, and effort are needed to make a relationship last; if these are apparent in your relationship, you are on the right…
Any breakup is hard, but divorce is especially difficult, as you have to say goodbye to the person you planned to spend forever with. Fortunately, you can take matters into your own hands and recover: the three keys are giving in to the pain, forgiving yourself, and practicing self-care. Additionally, it’s…
Money (and the financial stress that often accompanies it) can take a big toll on a marriage. In fact, one of the leading causes of divorce is finances. While it may be a heated topic, there are practical steps you can take to alleviate the stress money may be having…
Perfect relationships don’t exist; problems do and will arise, but the good news is that couples can effectively resolve many common relationship issues. First and foremost, couples need to maintain a healthy level of trust and respect, as these two elements can make or break a relationship. Another vital key…
Research shows that there are a few keys to good parenting: encouragement, limit-setting, monitoring and supervision, problem-solving, and positive involvement. Encouragement is all about showing your child positive attention, so as to encourage good behavior. Limit-setting involves setting clear rules as well as clear guidelines for discipline if those rules…
Relationships can be difficult—and entering holy matrimony doesn’t make them any easier. In fact, marriage can cause further complications, as many see this as a reason or excuse to neglect the relationship to a certain degree. They adopt the mentality that everything is A-Okay because, well, they’ve vowed to stand…