While fall brings relief from the summer heat and makes the masses giddy for all things cozy, for many, with the cooling temperatures also comes something not so pleasant- loneliness.

Every couple fights. That sentence alone — simple as it is — holds more relief than most people expect the first time they hear it in a therapy room.

As a licensed therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how anger and sex intertwine in romantic relationships. Both are powerful, emotional experiences that can either strengthen a bond or create distance if not handled thoughtfully. Understanding how these dynamics interact is essential for fostering healthy communication, intimacy, and emotional safety in your partnership.

Recently, I’ve had several new clients contact me with a presenting issue of being discontented with their singleness and their inability to find a partner who is ready to commit and settle down. My initial thought was “join the club”.

Marriage is often described as a journey, and like any journey, it’s bound to encounter storms. Conflict is an inevitable part of any relationship, including marriage. However, how we navigate these storms can significantly impact our mental well-being and the overall health of the relationship.

“I don’t know how to connect with my teen” is a phrase I hear often from parents. They express concern because their once bubbly, talkative, and affectionate child suddenly becomes a temperamental, hormonal teenager who retreats to their room as soon as they get home from school.

As social creatures we long for safe connections with others.  And yet often this experience eludes us and leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness.  What creates this disconnection? And how can we make a shift towards connection with safe others?  While this shift is very possible, I also recognize that it is very hard work. The hard work is well worth it when we find safe relational connections. 

Relationships can be warm, fulfilling, loving, and easy but they can also be cold, empty, hurtful and downright challenging and physically and emotionally draining! Thankfully, scientists of all types and backgrounds have been researching why positive relationships are so vital to our lives and how to go about creating and maintaining happy and healthy ones.

If you are feeling unsatisfied, hurt, can’t stop arguing, or generally feel misunderstood in your committed relationship, then it may be a sign it is time to seek couple therapy (also called marriage counseling).