Let’s be realistic and accept that couples fight.  If you have never had a disagreement with your partner then you probably aren’t expressing yourself or discussing serious issues.  Fights are so difficult but, if done right, they can have extremely successful results.  You want to feel comfortable expressing your viewpoint and you want to stand up for yourself, but what should you do if you get in a fight?

I just read the most amazing advice from the fabulous Dr. Phil about “How to Fight Fair.”  I strongly advise every couple to read these tips and discuss them together so you …read more

The popularity of young people as pet owners has grown significantly over the past ten years.  When I was growing up it seemed like only families living in houses with yards had dogs, but now young people take dogs to college with them and couples living in small apartments adopt puppies.  Trendy pet stores, celebrity pets, dog and cat fashion, animal adoption advertisements, and the growth of pet-friendly hotels and rental units have all contributed to the increase in pet adoption by young owners.

If you are thinking about getting a dog as a couple, there are many questions that you …read more

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Ex* by Heather Belle, MFC and Michelle Fiordaliso, MSW is a smart and insightful book about all of the complicated and confusing questions surrounding the issue of ex-lovers.
Everything…Ex* is written in a witty, colloquial, and organized style.  It is filled with short anecdotes, tons of pop culture references, and bullet points that break down the problems and solutions of the most common problems that the authors have witnessed in their studies of relationships, yet is still fun and easy to read.  And yes, I did say solutions!  I was extremely happy to see …read more

There is so much focus in our culture on boyfriend-girlfriend relationships that sometimes the importance of maintaining same sex friendships is overlooked.  It is so important to have some good girlfriends in your life, whether it’s for superficial outings like shopping and mani-pedis or for deep connections like heart-to-hearts and requests for womanly advice.
Once you get in the real world it is definitely much harder to meet girlfriends.  In college you have roommates and classes, but in the working world it’s much more awkward to make a connection with a new female.  I’ve heard from a lot of friends who …read more

I wrote an article last month called Are You Ready To Move In Together? that addressed the serious issues that should probably be resolved before signing a lease together.  As a follow-up I would like to propose a new set of questions to answer before moving in together that are not related to serious relationship issues, but instead address the issues related to sharing space.  Before you move in together it might be helpful to discover your level of compatibility as roommates.  Your relationship could be perfect, but if you drive each other crazy just because you live under the …read more

Not only has the recession been putting a strain on personal financial challenges, it has also been adding new stresses to relationships.  Long distance relationships, newlyweds, and casual dating have all been hit hard by the country’s economic downward spiral over the last couple years.  The good news is that we are all being affected fairly equally, but the bad news is that it might be awhile before the situation turns around.
If you have been feeling this recent economic relationship strain, don’t worry because you are not alone.  I have been hearing about new and challenging issues from friends and …read more

This is a common relationship story that happens often to both men and women.  You find yourself in a relationship that you think is blissfully perfect.  You dream of a happy future with a big house, babies, and a white picket fence.  You imagine your life together as a perfect happily ever after.  And then you get dumped.
This abrupt and unexpected type of break-up can be the most emotionally crushing, but surprisingly with some time and mental control, can be one of the easiest to get over.  If you have just suffered from this experience, here are the steps to …read more

It is not uncommon that after years of marriage a man and woman can find that they are not at the happy place they were when they took their vows.  Through the course of their lives together they have endured many challenges and hardships and it’s quite normal that these elements have taken their toll.  The troubles in their marriage could be small, but it is important that they make it a priority to address them in a healthy way before they get out of control and the couple moves farther apart.
I just read a great article from Dr. Phil …read more

What should you do?  Disliking your friend’s boyfriend is a common problem between friends and can end up completely ruining a friendship if it’s not handled in the right way…we all know what happened to Heidi, Spencer, and Lauren on The Hills!
If you have encountered this problem in your life, here are some tips for how to deal with it so that you can, hopefully, maintain a friendship and your own happiness:

Give him another chance. Sometimes new boyfriends can make a bad first impression.  You might have judged him too quickly.  Set your first impression aside and try to have …read more

With every man that is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, there are many loving and supportive family members and friends that are struggling to deal with this challenging and painful situation.  I can’t offer too much advice to those that are serving, but I do think that it’s extremely important to offer support to the loved ones who are fighting their own battle to stay strong at home.
I have some experience with military relationships, so I would like to start reaching out to women who have loved ones in the military and are looking for answers.  It is an extremely …read more