Relationships and Couples

In this high-stress age of internet romance, reblended families, and evolving values, love relationships are more complex and challenging than ever. Economic difficulty and shared or co-parenting issues just pile on. At a time when we no longer trust the government or schools, when we no longer go to church, and extended families no longer provide the support they used to in the “good old days”, couples feel more isolated and under pressure than ever. All of these stressors come through the door at the end of every day and usually get inflicted on – guess who? – our best friend, lover, and life partner.

My cognitive-behavioral model attempts to “keep it simple, stupid” with three primary conceptual pillars:

It requires two healthy individuals to make a healthy relationship.
Communication is the primary skill required for a stable and loving relationship life.
That improved communication skill needs to be used to negotiate common sense compromise approaches to: responsibility management, individual and shared social life, parenting, leisure time management, sex and romance.
Oh, it sounds simple? Well, it’s actually not, but here’s the payoff: research in the social sciences and anthropology seem to indicate that we are a monogamous species, and studies definitely indicate that partners in stable monogamous relationships live longer, and have less mental illness, medical diseases, addictions, and report a better quality of life. Doesn’t a partner-based shared model for stress management make more sense in this challenging, threatening world we live in? Let me help you figure out how to make it work!