by Marcia | Sep 30, 2014 | Love & Marriage
If you are looking for a long-term partner, you want to be emotionally available. Huh? What is “emotionally available”? Isn’t it enough to be not married or not in a relationship with someone else? Not exactly. Let me explain. In the discussion below, disregard the...
by Marcia | Sep 26, 2014 | Mental Health
Back in the days before I became a therapist, I went to see therapists. Lots of them. Over a period of decades. Most of them have all but vanished from memory. I got nothing out of most of the sessions. So why did I keep on going? My mother died when I was twelve. I...
by Marcia | Sep 23, 2014 | Relationship Skills
Friendships don’t come into being overnight. Once established, they mellow with time. A few simple rules can help people stay connected over the years through thick and thin. If your best friend does these ten things, you are blessed. If you do them, other people will...
by Marcia | Sep 19, 2014 | Childrearing
I’ve been a stepparent, and I’ve had a stepparent. If this history doesn’t make me sound like an expert, let me say that as a psychotherapist I’ve listened to dozens of stepparents, their spouses, and their stepchildren. Stepparents have a tough job, but a few...
by Marcia | Sep 16, 2014 | Relationship Skills
You want him to propose. You want her to have sex with you. You want your kid to do as you say. How do you make this happen? You probably hint at what you want. If you are brave you ask. Then you ask again. Maybe you try justifying your request. You might even argue...
by Marcia | Sep 12, 2014 | Love & Marriage, Relationship Skills
You can set the stage for romance in bed and elsewhere by following a few simple rules. No, I’m not talking about wine, candles, and roses. I’m talking about attitude. Some people think of sex simply as something to have or do. It’s easy to see how this mindset...
by Marcia | Sep 9, 2014 | Living Well
Feeling tired, stressed, irritable, or anxious? Modern life gives adults a tough row to hoe, particularly when the weather and world events look grim. If the daily grind seems out of control and almost more than you can bear, you might want to stop and take stock of...
by Marcia | Sep 5, 2014 | Love & Marriage, Relationship Skills
The process by which people size each other up is far more complicated than online dating might lead you to believe. Two people can exchange a zillion emails with photos, but they will know far more about each other in a split second when they finally meet face to...
by Marcia | Sep 2, 2014 | Living Well
You and I know that we live in a high-tech world. We cope with problems, stress, and uncertainty on a daily basis. Even if your workplace, your home, and your neighborhood seem pretty safe and secure, just look at the plight of the wider world around us! To cope with...
by Marcia | Sep 17, 2012 | Social Skills
The word “respect” stems from the Latin, “to look back,” or “to look again.” The verb means, according to my crumbling Merriam Webster’s Third New International, “to consider worthy of esteem” or, as a noun,...
by Marcia | Jul 19, 2012 | Relationship Skills, Social Skills
What communication and conflict resolution skills do you need for interpersonal relationships? The checklist below lets you take stock of your strengths and weaknesses and set goals for growth and development. Talk about each item with one or more people who know you...
by Marcia | Jun 24, 2012 | Relationship Skills
Do you feel shy and uncomfortable meeting new people for the first time? Is it hard to start a conversation? If shyness is a problem for you, maybe you think Everybody’s looking at me. They’ll see I’m not like everyone else. People will think what I...
by Marcia | Apr 29, 2012 | Anxiety, Living Well
These days it seems as if everyone is worried about money and paying the bills. Nothing tops financial stress when it comes to making people feel anxious, powerless, and stuck. If money problems plague you, here’s help. You can get a head start on stress and...
