In the previous post, I described the first foundation level of the Sound Relationship House: friendship and appreciation. Another important concept in developing and maintaining a strong friendship system is sharing fondness and admiration. The Magic Ratio In Dr. John Gottman’s research, he found that couples need to be perfect, having nothing but positive […]
The Sound Relationship House: Friendship and Appreciation
The Sound Relationship: Part 1 A great marriage needs a strong foundation. Remember the story of the three little pigs? The first little pig built his house of straw and the second made his house with wood. The third pig built his house of brick while the first two pigs played, taunting him for working […]
Sex and Kissing in Relationships
Have you stopped kissing your partner? In new relationships, kissing is frequent, often as a prelude to lovemaking. As a relationship develops over the long term, kissing can devolve into occasional pecks on the cheek. In couples’ therapy, I often ask how much kissing occurs during lovemaking as well as in non-sexual moments. Kissing […]
Passion and Romance in Marriage: How it Goes Sour
Would you choose gelato over non-fat frozen yogurt? Most of us would say gelato, even knowing that it is an unhealthy choice. Long-term marriage versus an affair? Most would choose a good, healthy marriage over a fleeting affair. But that choice depends on many variables. Is your marriage healthy? Do you still have passion, romance, […]
How to Survive a Rip Current of the Mind When Practicing Mindfulness Meditation
Ruminations and Worry Make Meditation and CBT Difficult Recently during a visit to Hawaii, I read a pamphlet on ocean safety that described how to survive a rip current. They can travel 1-8 feet per second, meaning that in an astonishing 8 seconds, you could be carried sixty-four feet out to sea! The instinct is […]
