In 1920s Hollywood, morality clauses began appearing in actors’ contracts, and studio executives discovered a new kind of stagecraft — one that had nothing to do with cameras. Gay and lesbian stars were quietly paired off in marriages designed to protect careers, maintain public image, and keep the machinery of celebrity turning. These were lavender…
A superbill is a detailed receipt that a therapist provides to a client after a session. Unlike a simple invoice, it contains the specific information an insurance company needs to process an out-of-network reimbursement claim. For many clients — particularly those seeking specialized care like Gottman Method Couples Therapy, where trained therapists often practice outside…
When a conflict or misunderstanding arises, it’s so easy to assume the worst about someone’s intentions. Our first response is to receive it as a personal attack. When we pause for a moment and ask if that’s what they meant to do or say, we often discover that’s not what they meant at all. We…
Sweet friends, we can no longer sugarcoat this issue; we must face the devastating and alarming statistics that increasingly show just how damaging artificial intelligence is to our relationships. More importantly, how “these systems” that are mimicking human likeness and thoughts are slowly destroying our marriages! The Stats Are In, and It’s Concerning! According to…
“Why am I still single?” I remember asking God that exact question one night as I sat in my car after yet another fun-filled wedding—celebrating someone else’s love story while wondering when mine would begin. My eyes were filled with tears during the ceremony, and I want to say it was because I was so…
We often get hung up on Scripture’s call to wives to submit to their husbands. But let’s look in context and not miss a critical piece of the Word that will help strengthen our marriage. Ephesians 5:33 says, “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that…
What Gottman’s Early Parenting Research Can Teach Us About Parenting Adult Children People ask me all the time if parenting gets easier. I usually tell them the truth: no, it just gets different. When you first have a baby, the task of parenting is actually pretty simple. You have one job: keep the baby alive….
Aww, marriage. It’s great, isn’t it? Can you hear the love birds cooing as you gaze into each other’s eyes, clasp one another’s hands, and smile fondly? The wind gently rustles in the sun-filtered treetops along a rugged mountainside that captures an awe-inspiring and breathtaking view. Then, it happens; you both lean in for that…
We can pick our friends, our lovers, and our spouses, but we cannot pick our family. They don’t even pick us, per se. Parents often plan to have children, but they don’t choose which one. They can’t. There’s no prize machine where they insert a quarter, then use a metallic claw to pick out their…
Because I’ve worked in stepfamily ministry for many years, I’m often asked about the term “Nacho Kids” or “Nacho Parenting.” This phrase, created, owned, and trademarked in 2013 by David and Lori Sims, came after they attended a marriage counseling session. They were struggling to blend her son and his 4 children into one household….