Every Relationship will eventually be tested. It could be a disloyal friend, an untrustworthy spouse, or bad business partner. What do we do when those turbulent times hit? It can be tempting to “jump ship” but if you stick to certain core principles, your relationship will be stronger than ever.

We all feel our share of worries and anxiety. These emotions can have a tendency to effect relationships. Dr. Matt Townsend shares 5 questions we can use to assess if there is anxiety manifesting itself within relationships we have. Are they deep feelers and sensitive? Are they more moody and easily irritated? Are they demanding […]

Communication with our partner can be incredibly difficult, but also incredibly rewarding. Dr. Matt Townsend says that when we focus first on finding the right spirit in the conversation, we will be able to find the right words. Examples of finding the right spirit can be outlined through these 4 comparisons: Inviting vs. Interrogating Understanding […]

Recognizing the Raw Spots That Drive Your Reactivity Think of a time you have been in a conversation with someone where they say something that makes you feel angry or insecure . . . so much so that you can’t continue the conversation normally.  You are probably experiencing what Dr. Sue Johnson, the creator of […]

Resilient is a word we’re hearing a lot these days and one that we all want to be able to use to describe our families, especially with everything going on in the world now. Dr. Matt Townsend shares three conversations that families can have that will build resilience as we deal with life’s ups and […]

Being in the middle of a pandemic can take a toll on our mental state and can leave us all feeling a little or even a lot unsettled. In hard times, there are some strategies that can help ease the strain on our minds and bring us more peace. Dr. Matt Townsend shares four things […]

Have you had a chance to watch the presentation I did for Hope Works a couple of months ago? Take a look!

The American school system puts students in grades based on age. However, for a some students, being with same-age peers in the classroom might not be the best option. Dr. Susan Assouline discusses her work as an expert in ‘academic acceleration’: “One effective way to help talented students remain intellectually challenged and engaged in school […]

Sometimes it’s really hard to have the courage and strength to forgive someone who has really hurt you, or done wrong to you. According to Kim Giles, there are actually some benefits to not forgiving, along with some setbacks: “Holding onto anger and judgment is like reaching into a fire to grab a hot coal […]

Many couples today enlist to start couples therapy, to strengthen their relationship and to fix premature or potential problems. But is there another – and cheaper – way to repair emotional damage and to develop stronger feelings for one another? According to Kelley Kitley, “While it doesn’t necessarily replace couples therapy, psychologists agree that working […]