How to Get to Know Each Other with the Core Values Index™
Over the last several weeks, we’ve talked about how to recognize a healthy relationship, how to start building your Strong Relationship House, and three proven strategies for continuing to build it. Here at Core Values Counseling, we understand that the foundation of...
3 Proven Strategies for Building Your Strong Relationship House
You might have noticed that we’re kind of obsessed with healthy relationships here at Core Values Counseling. We recently wrote about how to recognize a healthy relationship and how to start building the foundation of your own healthy relationship (the Gottmans call...
How to Start Building Your Sound Relationship House
Once you know how to recognize a healthy relationship, you’ll likely want to get working on your own relationship with your partner right away. There are concrete steps you can take to do exactly that, and you can start today. If you’ve been around Core...
How to Recognize a Healthy Relationship — and Improve Yours Today
Here at Core Values Counseling, we talk a lot about the Core Values Index™ and how unpacking the CVI™ can lead to some wonderful breakthroughs in your relationships. With this post, Eric will share his thoughts on what a good relationship looks like and feels like. If...
Beautiful Transformations: Relationships and Autumn
Autumn is just around the corner. Can you feel it? There’s a crispness to the mornings now that we didn’t have a few weeks ago. And there’s a shift in everyone’s energy — from the carefree ramblings and back-porch hangouts of summer to the buzzing energy of returning...
Farewell to the Goodness of Summer, and Hello to the Promise of Fall
I can hardly believe it’s already September and that another summer is nearly behind us. But just last week, I popped out onto my back patio for some morning time with God, and it was chilly enough that I had to head back inside for my fuzzy robe to keep warm! Fall...
This is How You Can Start Accepting Influence in Your Relationship
In a recent post, we talked about why accepting influence can revolutionize your relationship. Today, let’s take that a step further. I’d like to help you understand how to accept influence — and give you a few tools to use in your everyday life. Welcoming your...
Here’s Why Accepting Influence Can Revolutionize Your Relationship
Do you find yourself regularly and intentionally being open to the ideas and opinions of your partner? Does your partner do the same for you? The Gottmans refer to this important relationship dynamic as accepting influence. It’s a skill and a habit that really has the...
Grieving? This is Why Turning Towards Your Partner Can Help
In a recent post, I mentioned having been in the midst of some very significant grief — and that I’ve been working on building my resilience. And since I’ve made transparency and vulnerability a priority — both in my personal life and my professional practice — I’d...
Struggling with Weariness? Resilience Is Key
If you’re having a hard week (or month… or year), let me be the first to tell you: You don’t have to have all the answers — for anyone else or for yourself. Recently, I was reading John Eldredge’s new book, Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent...
Is There Actually a Dream Under Your Hidden Resentment?
A wise person once said, “Hidden resentments poison a relationship. So if something bothers you, say it.” The Gottmans take an even more nuanced view of hidden resentments: under that conflict, there is most likely a hidden dream. Most conflicts in relationships are...
Could This Daily Ritual Breathe New Life Into Your Relationship?
Feel like your relationship is on the back burner? You and your partner deserve to move together in the direction you both want to go. This ritual can help.
Why Vulnerability is Essential to Hope in Relationships
Is your relationship stuck in a cycle of negativity, criticism, defensiveness, and hopelessness? Discover how to get unstuck through the power of vulnerability.
The Art and Science of Love: How to Rediscover Friendship (and More!) With Your Partner
The Art and Science of Love: How to Rediscover Friendship (and More!) With Your Partner Feeling distant from your partner, like the spark has fizzled? Or maybe you’ve noticed you’re operating more like business partners than partners in love—raising kids, running...
3 Things TV Gets Wrong About Affairs
We see affairs and their aftermath depicted on television shows and film practically every day. It’s a favorite ‘conflict’ for many shows to mine, and can present some truly inspiring storylines. However, a lot of the times — TV just gets it wrong. 1. “Once a cheater,...
A TED Talk You Need To Hear
Over five years ago, we shared this TED talk with you, along with our thoughts on the subject. While it’s certainly been a while, it seems like this particular subject has never been more relevant. Our world seems to grow more stressful by the day — so...
Your Summer Marriage Survival Guide
No matter what stage of life you’re at, every season can bring its own delights and challenges. Summer is no exception. For Eric and I, expectations of what we want out of summer can be very different. Ever the Innovator, Eric always has a long list of projects he...
How to Increase Empathy with Your Partner
We’ve all been there. You’re having an argument with your partner, and they explain why they’re upset. You listen — you really listen — but they might as well be speaking ancient Latin for all you’re able to understand. Why would...
