For most of us, the holiday festivities are long gone and we’re already weeks deep into the new year. For those that celebrate Lunar New Year (a.k.a. Spring Festival and Chinese New Year, though it is observed by numerous Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and more), the biggest event of the year […]

“Have courage and be kind.” – Cinderella Life can be stressful. In the midst of deadlines and schedules, we can often forget to be kind to one another. Each of us are battling something that most people know nothing about. Whether it is work stress, family struggles, or health issues, it is important to remember […]

As devastating and serious as suicide is, it’s a topic that people hide away from. Because of this, many people are left to suffer in silence. Their closest loved ones are left oblivious to their pain. Or, their loved ones may suspect something is wrong but don’t know how to bring it up, so they […]

Do’s and Don’ts of Supporting Someone with Depression Depression is not easy. It is complicated and different for each person who struggles with it. Sometimes, I wonder if people really understand how debilitating it can be. Depression is not just being sad or down in the dumps. It is typically a long term struggle with […]

Police found the lifeless body of 28-year-old mother, Elizabeth Davis, in a creek on Thursday, July 19th. Elizabeth, or Libby, was a special education teacher in Plano, TX. She suffered from postpartum depression after giving birth 20 months ago and it recently became more severe. Severe enough for her to drive her vehicle off the […]

Do you or your spouse always feel the need to be right?  Do either of you need to have the last word during a conflict or get frustrated when the other doesn’t agree?  If I’m honest, I have to admit I’m like most people – being wrong isn’t always the easiest to acknowledge.  No one […]

  80% of my job is to listen well.  Listening involves being silent and it is one of the best tools to implement in any relationship, especially your marriage.  There’s this great verse about silence located in the Bible. Proverb 17:28, “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they […]

Communication issues is by far the number one complaint I hear in couples counseling.  When I say, ‘by far’, I mean there’s nothing remotely close. There are 8 basic parts of communication: sender, encoding, the actual message, channel, decoding, receiver, noise, and feedback. Each part offers a chance for breakdown.  Trying to assess how a […]

“I’m sorry” are two of the most important words couples can use. Vital. Life-altering. Forgiveness and reconciliation is the glue of marriage. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. First, we need to get there: to open the door of tenderhearted and the eyes of kindness on our spouse once again. Dr. Gottman, one of the […]