“Becoming a stepfamily is a process, not an event.” ~ Dr. Patricia Papernow. Blended families — wow, they’re beautiful and hard in all kinds of ways. You’re not imagining it. When two people come together with children from different pasts, the emotional landscape changes. There’s excitement and hope … and…
“Knowing that we can lose (our partner) does not have to undermine commitment; rather, it mandates an active engagement that long‑term couples often lose.” ~ Esther Perel.A lot of us worry, even if we don’t say it out loud, about growing apart from the person we love. It’s that little ache…
"We need to replace descriptors like 'emotionally immature' or 'toxic' with actions and goals of 'respect,' 'compassion,' 'understanding,' and 'collaboration." - Rachael Haack Estrangement is something most of us never imagine could happen in our own families—until it does. And when it does, it can feel like the rug has…
"Excitement in love comes from the risk involved in staying open to the here-and-now experience and emotional connection." - Dr. Sue JohnsonIf you’ve been dating someone for a while, chances are the thought has crossed your mind: “So… are we exclusive yet?”It’s one of those moments that can feel exciting,…
"Many couples believe that opening their relationship will fix what’s broken. But more often than not, it reveals the underlying insecurities and unmet needs that were already there." - Dr. Terri Orbuch You’ve probably noticed it.The growing number of podcasts, articles, and social media posts about open relationships. Some call…