While the happiest time of the year it may be for some, unfortunately, the holidays can also bring up a lot for many of us. Whether it's visiting family, getting pulled into old roles and dynamics, the stress of traveling or shopping, the pain of isolation and loneliness, or conflict arising in partnerships and families... Here are some tips on how to manage and get through it with a few less bumps and bruises.

When partners are “paired”, like Bluetooth devices, they are connected.  When there's a problem, partners get disconnected and they need to re-pair. It usually takes a minute. Here are the most important guidelines for re-pairing (repairing) injuries.

Let’s relabel couples therapy as something like relationship training. I mean it seems obvious to take some sort of training in anything you want to do halfway decently. Why not do that with one of the most important things in your life, your relationship, family, or marriage?

Here are a few essential elements of every happy relationship. You and your partner might approach them in your own unique way, but if you’ve been feeling like something is “missing” in your relationship, it could be on this list!

In relationship it’s inevitable that we’ll step on each other’s toes and have different needs that conflict.  And it’s likely we’ll want or need different things at the same time.  When this happens, the situation is ripe for conflict, hurt and disappointment. So, when the dust has settled, how do you repair? 

Not everyone is super skilled or comfortable with “real” communication.  Here are five quick questions to help you out.