How do you know when you should break up your relationship? It’s often a huge emotional decision that doesn’t have an easy answer, yet it’s something many of us with a history of relationships have grappled with at one time or another. There’s no such thing as a perfect relationship, but if you’re currently in […]
How to Know When it’s Time to Break Up Read Post »
Whoever said long-distance relationships aren’t hard has undoubtedly never been in one. Long-distance relationships are becoming more common for many couples due to ‘fly in, fly out’ (FIFO) work, the massive increase in people travelling overseas, and the globalisation of today’s world where living and working in another state or country is easier to achieve
The Best Advice for Anyone in Long-distance Relationships Read Post »
Guest post by Amanda Woolveridge In my work as a psychotherapist and couples counsellor, I often hear the word “intimacy” in my therapy room when talking to couples about their relationship. But what does it mean and how do we achieve it and maintain it in our significant relationships? It isn’t just the domain of
Intimacy: What is it and how do you achieve it in your relationship? Read Post »
Many people interested in couples therapy hesitate because they’re not sure what to expect. That can be scary, but I’m here to allay your fears. If your relationship needs professional help, you can count on the Gottman Relationship Checkup to kickstart your work together as a couple and help you get the most out of
The Gottman Relationship Checkup for Couples: How Healthy is Your Relationship? Read Post »
Believe it or not, online dating was once considered a strange and unusual thing. When I started working as a couples therapist back in the early 21st Century, I always asked my couples how they met. My couples would often be embarrassed to tell me they met online. It was like online dating was a
5 Survival Tips for Online Dating Read Post »
Is the honeymoon long over? Hang in there. A new University of California, Berkeley, study shows those prickly disagreements that can mark the early and middle years of marriage mellow with age as conflicts give way to humour and acceptance. Researchers analysed videotaped conversations between 87 middle-aged and older husbands and wives who had been
STUDY: Ageing Married Couples Replace Bickering with Humour Read Post »
If you find yourself single this holiday season, reluctant to do anything except stay home and indulge various vices, take heart: it’s a time of year like any other. It’s just been so co-opted by capitalism that we’re bombarded with holiday images and expectations from early November through the New Year. With media messages
6 Tips for Finding Love This Holiday Season Read Post »
Hugging, while it’s usually regarded as a simple and everyday act, has been found by scientists to radically alter one’s outlook for the better and affect the way our brains work in the long term. According to a study from PLOS One, after social and/or relationship conflict, giving and receiving hugs with the other person
The Surprising Science of Hugs Read Post »
I recently spoke with Melanie Tait on the ABC Radio Nightlife program about open relationships. This was a fascinating discussion with some interesting callers on the talkback sharing their experiences. In this interview I answer the following questions: How common is it for couples to have an open relationship? How have relationships evolved and where
All couples experience conflict, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The goal of a successful relationship is not to eliminate conflict, but to repair effectively after conflicts occur. This takes relationship skills—which can be learned! Let’s discuss some of what argumentative couples have in common. Why is relationship conflict so common? Conflict
How to Fight Fair: The Pros and Cons of Conflict Read Post »
