As we approach the holiday season, you may be spending more time than usual with your family of origin and with your partner’s family. Whether you’re in a new dating relationship or a long marriage, you can use the holidays as a chance to learn more about your significant other. In a dating relationship, you’re […]
What Your SO Needs Right Now (No Travel Required)
I don’t actually know your sweetie, so I can’t be sure, of course. But if you’d like an educated guess from a pro, here’s what s/he may be longing for: chill time, preferably with you. The holidays are such a busy time of year that we tend to back-burner the people who are in our […]
The White-Lights/Colored Lights Couple Conundrum
When you were a child, did you have colored lights or white lights on your Christmas tree? (I bet you know the answer without having to think.) Did your partner have the same kind? If both your families of origin decorated the tree in more or less the same way, you’re lucky. You didn’t have […]
Gift-Giving that Works for Your Relationship
What gift are you getting your honey this year? Do you feel pretty good about your plan—or are you scared you might not get it right? Gift-giving can be a big challenge for couples. There are so many variables involved, so many ways to get it wrong. Couples in my therapy office often complain about […]
Not a Norman Rockwell Family? How to Make the Holidays Better
We have this idea that family holidays should look like a Norman Rockwell painting: everyone scrubbed and smiling. You may even think that most families are really like that. Some are closer to that fantasy than others, but I assure you that every family’s got at least some rough patches, and many families have a […]
One Simple Trick for Reducing Holiday Shopping Stress
This time of year, people use words like stress, hectic, and frenzy more than usual. All the holiday prep and shopping on top of life’s usual demands can feel like just too much. What’s supposed to be a joyous season can become miserable. Some years back, I had an epiphany about holiday shopping that’s proven […]
Are You Thankful for Your In-Laws?
Your partner’s family can have a big impact on your relationship, especially at holiday time. If you’re blessed with wonderful in-laws and you know it, you are truly lucky. It can’t hurt to tell them again how thankful you are that they’re part of your life. The more common scenario, alas, is in-laws that drive […]