One of the common reasons why couples come to see a marriage counselor is that they feel like their relationship has no direction. “We’re stuck”, and “our relationship is going nowhere” are not uncommon phrases heard by marriage therapists when couples first come to see them. Marriage is about a … [Read more...]
The sixth ingredient for a great marriage: Avoiding gridlock
As a Southern California resident, often times when I hear the word “gridlock” I think of the infamous freeway traffic that my neighbors and I endure on a daily basis. One popular dictionary defines gridlock as: “a traffic jam affecting a whole network of intersecting streets.” Unfortunately, our … [Read more...]
The fourth ingredient for a great marriage: Accepting your spouse’s input
About a year and a half ago I was in the market for a new car. We had bought a new Nissan for Yvonne in 2014, and I was driving the Chevy Astro van that we had purchased back in 2000, which had 268,000 miles on it. I had decided that I was going to buy a 2016 Honda Accord. But which Accord… And … [Read more...]
The third ingredient for a great marriage: Tuning in to your spouse
This might come as a surprise to you, but the life of a marriage and family therapist just might not be as exciting some other professions. Sorry if I’m bursting any bubbles out there but rock stars, F1 drivers, hockey players, and Navy fighter pilots might have professions that are just a little … [Read more...]
The second ingredient for a great marriage: It isn’t olive oil
Last June my wife, Yvonne, and I picked up a copy of The Daniel Plan and jumped in with both feet looking to improve our bodies and minds. Little did we know to what lengths our culinary skills would be both challenged, and improved. One of my challenges has been to be certain that I pay enough … [Read more...]