Key Takeaways Bickering can point to deeper issues in the relationship, not just surface-level disagreements. Strengthening emotional safety can reduce conflict and create more space for connection. Feelings of...
Category - Relationship Problems
Lisa Brookes Kift, MFT
The Under-the-Radar Relationship Killer
Sometimes the biggest relationship problems are not the loudest. Be most concerned about the issues that go unspoken, especially if conflict avoidance is normal for both partners. Key Takeaways Subtle, consistent...
Deconstructing Bickering in Relationships
Richard Nicastro, PhD examines why couples fight and proposes that bickering isn’t always the way it seems. Though bickering can clearly be problematic, he proposes the possibility that sometimes it might be fun...
Richard Nicastro, PhD
Ask Lisa : Lack of Emotional Safety in My Relationship
A woman shares her concern about the lack of emotional safety in her relationship and her challenge with getting him to understand what she needs from him. The Question to Lisa “I read your article on emotional...
Limerence vs. Love in Long-Distance Relationships
Most people have felt that rush of intense emotion when first attracted to someone: the butterflies, the obsessive thoughts, the constant yearning. Long-distance relationships can be a breeding ground for intense...
Roadblocks to Forgiveness in Relationships
Richard Nicastro, Phd, explores some of the obstacles to forgiveness in intimate relationships; shame, guilt and fear. Imagine this scenario: Your spouse/partner has wounded you in some way. S/he has now expressed what...
Help for High-Conflict Couples
Having a healthy, loving and connected relationship is one of the most rewarding experiences. Couples often start out in a good place and can’t imagine things going awry. The biologically necessary attachment...
Is Your Relationship in Red Alert?
The most dangerous relationship threats aren’t always the most visible; like a pattern of high conflict, lack of kindness or disrespect. Those are clearly problematic signs that need attention but the behaviors...
Men Who Chase Shadows: Secrets, Lies and Acting Out
“Why did I do it? I love my wife, I have so much to lose, why?!” Many of the men I work with are seeking answers to questions like the one above. They’ve acted in ways they later regret and, at some point, they had to...
The Most Important Aspect of Affair Recovery
The emotional backlash of an affair on the partner who was cheated on can be earth shattering. Whether there was suspicion of this happening leading up to the discovery or not, it all leads to a spectrum of emotions...
