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Dr. Susan O'Grady

Couples Counseling – Relationships – Mindfulness – Podcasts

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The Sound Relationship House: Sharing Fondness and Admiration

November 26, 2013 By Dr. Susan O'Grady

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

November 22, 2013 By Dr. Susan O'Grady

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

November 11, 2013 By Dr. Susan O'Grady

  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

October 3, 2013 By Dr. Susan O'Grady

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, […]

Relationships and Vacations

August 12, 2013 By Dr. Susan O'Grady

Travels and Travails

  A weekend away can bring back romance and intimacy For many couples, a vacation brings a return to romance. But you can set yourself up for disappointment if your expectations are too high or unrealistic.  Usually, at some point in couples’ therapy, a weekend away is scheduled to help build romance and passion back […]

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Recent Posts

  • Marriage: In pleasure and in pain
  • The No Surprises Act of 2022: What it means for psychologists
  • Relationship Mindset: How implicit beliefs affect romantic relationships
  • Psychotherapy in the Virtual Space: How teletherapy has changed the way we give and get care
  • Passion, Sex, and Romance in Long-term Relationships

Dr. Susan J. O’Grady is a Certified Gottman Couples Therapist

Learn more about marriage counseling and couples therapy »


Learn more about the Gottman Relationship Checkup »

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