The first questions I ask in a therapy session with any couple is, "How did you two first meet? What were your first impressions? What stood out?" You can probably guess the wide range of stories I hear when a couple begins to tell their story. Ultimately, regardless of their first impressions and moments, they…
Tag: marriage and family
To the Woman Who Made Me a Father
Father’s Day is a great, but I wouldn’t be the father I am today without one very special woman... Watching you become a mother was nothing short of amazing. How proud I was to watch you meticulously and so selflessly change your lifestyle for months. How impressed I was (and still am) that you carried…
How to Approach the Holidays as Husband and Wife
Let me be completely honest for a minute. I absolutely love the season we are entering into (minus the super freezing cold). I love everything about it - family, friends, gatherings, the laughs, the smells, the food, making memories - everything. This is always a time of reflection, purpose and joy. But... Unfortunately, not all…
How Flooding Effects Marriage
While at home your spouse walks into the room, makes a statement and asks a question. You've heard this before, you know this isn't going to be a good conversation. You instantly feel tense, worried, scared, or helpless. The conversation continues and the negative tone heightens and the rate of words increases. There's a question,…
Women Don’t Need Love… But
From the end of 2016, it seems to be that women have flooded all of the media outlets from #nastywoman, #metoo, to the most recent #timesup movement. While I haven’t carefully followed much detail of these news stories, I cannot help to be heartbroken, angry, and simply disappointed over how women are/have been treated and…
Destructive Words: 4 Truths to Healing
Have you ever stopped to think about the language you use to your spouse? I’m talking about the actual words, your vocabulary you use. In reality, your words can bring true healing or sure destruction to your spouse and ultimately to your relationship. This may seem like common sense, but let me explain why: Criticism…
Betrayed: How to Address Your Spouse After an Affair
Discovering that your spouse has been unfaithful can potentially be the most devastating thing that one could ever experience in a marriage. Regardless of the context or nature of the affair, in most cases, it is extremely difficult to know how to handle the cascade of thoughts and feelings that follow such a discovery.The good…
A Husband’s Call to Love
Let’s assume that you began reading this post as a woman or wife and/or mother. I’m glad you’re here (I’ll talk to husbands later). This message is for both men and women. Regardless of your current circumstances, healthy or unhealthy, positive or negative, “good” or “bad,” you have prayed or are praying for a partner…
Become a Master in Managing Conflict with just 4 Steps
Finding yourselves stuck in the same conflict over and over again? Stop spinning your wheels. Try these 4 steps and be on your way to becoming a master of managing conflict!
Q-Tip Challenge: The Power of Choice
You may be wondering... What in the world is the "Q-Tip Challenge?" It begins with a story. In June of 2014 my wife and I stated our vows and said "I do." After our incredible honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, we both came home to a clean apartment, -$150 in our bank account and many,…