When pressure to have the perfect holiday builds relationship tension, we need to change our unrealistic expectations. We need to accept that we cannot change our relatives. But we can set boundaries and not take things personally. Once we do this we can better appreciate the time spent connecting with family members.
Marriage Problems
If you’re married to an addict, don’t give up hope. Making sure you are able to help and getting support from other people are key steps that you can take. Here’s how one expert counselor explains how to care for yourself and avoid enabling your addicted loved one.
The holidays are over. Has the New Year brought to light old financial habits? Learn how to address three money problems like frequent dining out or lifestyle inflation. Here are practical solutions to break bad financial habits, manage debt, and strengthen your marriage through intentional faith-based money decisions.
Unspoken communication can be at least as powerful as words. Several techniques can help you and your spouse communicate better and restore romance between you. Don’t rely on silence or overreact. Watch your body language and use your eyes to intentionally communicate warmth.
Relationships between married couple and their in-laws can be difficult. Couples can mitigate disagreements and problems they have with their in-laws by showing honor to them and building mutual respect. Not making demands, learning to negotiate, as well as expressing appreciation where you can, are key skills for doing this.
It’s hard to describe the pain of walking through your child’s divorce. How do you support him or her in this time? Here are some practical ways to deal with your own hurt and come alongside your child.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes It was supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. I was a new bride, and my heart was full of anticipation as I looked forward to celebrating our first Christmas together as a married couple. But the holiday season turned out to be anything but peace on …
Quiet divorce is a growing problem in marriages today. It happens when couples stop paying attention to each other and slowly drift apart—without ever filing for divorce. Every married couple needs to understand what a quiet divorce is and why it matters. As a husband and a marriage counselor, I want to share practical marriage …
Spiritual attacks and normal growth issues are happening all the time. If your relationship is going through some rough patches, consider taking some practical steps to improve it. Pray for your marriage and get on the same team as your spouse. Make sure you are improving as a person and investing in your marriage.
Because of birth order, the place in their families of origin, spouses have different experiences growing up, and that shapes behavior, personalities and relationships with each other. Understanding how birth order affects how your spouse thinks and behaves can improve communication in your marriage.
Sexual coercion and assault in marriage can be hard to recognize. This is because there is unbiblical teaching about sex and manipulative tactics at play. Learning to refute this false teaching and recognize abuse is key to ending the confusion and preventing abuse.
If you and your spouse look for unexpected gifts in your life this Christmas, you just may find a blessing in working together to manage family dynamics during the holiday season.
How do you heal from infidelity? It’s hard work to rebuild trust and intimacy after the betrayal of infidelity, but when both partners are willing to do the work, it’s worth it. It is possible to move forward. It involves a lot of hard conversations and deep introspection, as well as rekindling intimacy and passion.
When you realize your marriage is in need of restoration, you can always turn to God. Asking God to heal the key aspects of your marriage like commitment, communication, connection, and intimacy, can refocus you on what really matters. The power of prayer can give you hope for a better marriage, and the courage to …
When spouses stay alert to changes in each other, they can catch warning signs of possible mental health issues early on and seek the help they need. Watch for drastic emotional, cognitive, physical, behavioral, or spiritual changes. If a souse needs help, it’s wise to initiate a gentle conversation, ask questions, and get an outside …
Three types of emotional abuse can easily be disguised: gaslighting, retaliation and projection. Recognize when you’re in an emotionally abusive relationship.
Alienation, anger, and anxiety developed from a young age will likely show up in your marriage, too. If you and your spouse could better understand what drives your “default reaction” or unhealthy coping skills, you could grow and move toward healthier responses in your marriage.
Undiagnosed autism in marriage may result in confusion and pain for both spouses. If you discover that your spouse has autism, don’t lose hope for your marriage. You can move forward by accepting the differences, resetting your expectations, and finding help.
When you realize your marriage is in need of restoration, you can always turn to God. Asking God to heal the key aspects of your marriage like commitment, communication, connection, and intimacy, can refocus you on what really matters. The power of prayer can give you hope for a better marriage, and the courage to …
Warning signs alert us when the Enemy attacks your marriage. Learn how to be victorious against the Devil’s schemes.