Relationship problems are often the least of your worries when you’re a newlywed. Most couples are still riding high on all those wonderful “love” hormones. The world seems perfect, and you know you found your soul mate. So why do some of these happy couples end up divorcing years down the road? What happened to [...]

Seeking relationship help may still be an option even if you have already started divorce proceedings. In a recent study by William J. Doherty, divorcing parents were asked if they were interested in services to help them reconcile. At least 10% of the couples were both interested, and at least 30% of the couples had [...]

As a Portland marriage counselor, I find that most people believe divorce occurs after a long period of misery and intense conflict between the spouses, but from my practice, I can tell you that’s not usually the case. Recent studies support what I’ve seen firsthand. About 50 to 66% of couples who divorce had low [...]

As a Portland marriage counselor, I have helped many same-sex couples avoid divorce. Even if you aren’t able to legally marry in the state of Oregon, many couples still consider themselves married and have committed to a lifelong relationship with their partner. The pain of divorce is the same, even without the legal paperwork to [...]

Relationship problems are a part of every marriage, and although most couples aim to fight less, the truth is some level of conflict is actually a good thing. Why? If you have a disagreement, you need to talk it through. Avoiding the problem won’t make it go away. In fact, it will often make it [...]

My relationship advice to you in order to save your marriage, is to learn and use skills. I believe that by learning relationship skills and tools you can build a stronger, happier marriage. So what skills do you need to strengthen your marriage? What tools give you a chance to save your marriage from the [...]

Is divorce contagious? Although a popular study says “yes”, this Portland Oregon marriage counselor can reassure you that it need not be. The study says that your chances of divorce are 75% higher if your friends or family members announce their split.
Being supportive of your friend and family’s marriages can enhance your own relationship. Although [...]

As a Portland Marriage Counselor, I don’t just offer relationship advice to couples, I also work with singles to help them overcome their personal obstacles to genuine, intimate relationships. Often people come to me after a break-up looking for relationship advice on how to find the right person. Instead, I encourage people to look within [...]

To save your marriage, it’s not uncommon for couples to want to separate as a way to calm things down and relieve tension. While having time away from one another might bring momentary peace, trying to save your relationship this way is dangerous. The temporary relief you feel can distract you from working on marriage issues, [...]

As a Portland relationship counselor I want my clients to understand that creating and maintaining a good marriage is vital to your children’s well being.  Now that the Christmas wrappings are recycled and the kid’s gifts are discarded in the kid’s toy box, it’s time to think about the best gift you can give your [...]