Do you and your honey talk? Like, really talk, so you feel you know what’s going on in each other’s heads and hearts? For some couples, this comes naturally. Talking about the stuff that matters leads to wonderful, deep connection. Knowing what’s really going on with your partner makes it much less likely that you’ll […]
3 Things You Must Know Before You Commit
When you’re in love, you’re happy. You see all the great things about your darling. Even things that might irritate you if other people did them are endearing when your honey does them. It’s just great. Finally you’ve found the one. And you think about taking it to the next level. At the risk of […]
The Uses and Abuses of “Hurt”
You hear all the time that someone is hurt by someone else’s words or actions. You may feel hurt yourself. It feels lousy to hurt, and most of us want to avoid hurting others. So if someone says you’ve done something hurtful, you must have done something wrong. Right? Well, it depends. There are several […]
Should a First Date Be Dinner or Just Drinks?
Since the rise of on-line dating, many first dates happen between people who’ve never met in person. There are so many possible partners out there that you ought to be efficient about how much time you invest on any one first date, right? Since you can pretty much tell in the first few minutes whether […]
When Is Porn Harmful to Relationships?
Depending on your perspective, you might think pornography is always harmful. Or you might think it’s no big deal. After all, lots of people view porn—it accounts for 35% of all web traffic in the US(!). But an expert in the field of sexuality and relationships explains that really, porn is complicated. Sometimes porn use […]
Too Tired for Sex
With all the demands of modern life, sometimes couples just don’t have the time or energy to spend intimate moments together. With jobs, errands to do, maybe kids, a household to run, and outside commitments, sometimes there just isn’t much left over for your partner. But that’s a problem. Your partner shouldn’t be getting only […]
“I Have a Temper, But I Don’t Stay Mad”
Is this you? Or someone you know? It’s an idea I hear a lot. When people talk about how they handle emotions and disagreements, often they’ll say something along these lines: “I get mad quick, but I get over it.” “My family is pretty fiery—when we’re mad you’ll know about it. But then it blows […]
The One Dating Convo You Absolutely Must Have
You’ve been dating Chris for months now. It feels so good to be together. Your conversations have gotten deeper, the sex is great, and you spend most of every weekend together. You text every day and have met each other’s friends. Sometimes there are hints about a future together. Obviously, you’ve become “a couple” and […]
TalkStarter for Couples: Let the Music Play
For each of us, all sorts of things can trigger sexual feelings and memories. Smells, sensations, words—and music. A lot of what we find sexy comes from our distant past, including childhood. Our arousal patterns—what does it for each of us—are unique and complex. Some elements we may not even be consciously aware of. But […]
To Connect, Unplug
Where is your phone right now? Well, that’s not exactly a fair question, because if you’re reading this, you’re using a phone, tablet, or other device. But is your phone usually right near you? Does it live wherever you are–in your pocket, on your dinner table, on your nightstand? How often do you turn it […]