We can’t change the fact that people divorce. But too often, divorce is poorly handled, causing hardship to children. However, children from divorced homes can adapt in a healthy manner if the parents are able to work together. According to a new study by Robert Bauserman in the March Journal of Family Psychology children in […]

The idea of making personal changes excites many of us. We begin with enthusiasm and declare that “things will be different this time”. This time you really will lose twenty pounds, meet the love of your life and resolve the issues between you and your mother. However, too often we give up and are quickly […]

My sister was telling me about her circle of friends. Apparently, two of them had a falling out and aren’t speaking right now. This conflict makes it awkward for the rest of them when they get together. They don’t want to take sides and they don’t want to cause hurt feelings by excluding either or […]

This week Ariel Castro was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years for kidnaping and physically, sexually and emotionally abusing three women over an eleven-year period. In spite of evidence of extreme abuse, he took no accountability for his actions. He created and maintained a world view in which he was “a normal guy.” […]

In my previous articles on finding true love, I made the point that dating is a number’s game and that you have to meet lots of people before finding the right match. So what makes for a good match? In western cultures we want chemistry, compatibility and commitment. Chemistry has to do with sexual attraction, […]

As a relationship counselor, I have been asked my opinion of online dating services, such as Match.com and eHarmony.com. Online dating services have revolutionized the dating process. It has provided a format to take charge of whom, when and where you meet others, rather than leaving it to chance. This is especially important in rural […]

As a Marriage & Family Therapist, people come to me for counseling to improve their relationships. As I reflect on the 20+ years that I have been a therapist, I would say those single women in their late 20s and early 30s comprise a large population of people who seek therapy. Why? They are unhappy […]

Whether it’s a friend who needs guidance, a family member in need of a boost, or a co-worker requiring motivation, we could all use more encouragement. We all want the best for our loved ones. But while our intentions may be good, our methods often provoke resistance or foster discouragement. Power and control seem to […]

Over lunch the other day, a friend discussed her concerns about her mother’s welfare. She laid out the following scenario: Her brother does not work due to a physical disability and has chronic pain, for which he takes large amounts of pain killers. Her mother loves him and wants to help, especially because he has […]

Did you know that DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services) receives, investigates and acts upon a report of child abuse or neglect every five minutes, child sex abuse every two hours, and the death of a child by abuse or neglect every day and a half? Unfortunately, up to 80 percent of abuse and […]