Is it possible that having too much money can ruin a marriage? We all have stress in our life. Too many hours at work, too little time with the kids, too much money….wait…what? We always hear of the stress and arguments that can come from finances being stretched too tightly, but it isn’t very often that we hear of the damaging effects that too much money can cause. Is it possible that living in the lap of luxury could mean loosing your spouse?

Dr. Ashley Freeman is a psychologist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC. She holds a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, as well as a Master’s in Psychology, from Iowa State. Her clinical experiences are diverse, as she continually seeks the new and the challenging. Dr. Freeman is experienced in individual, couples, family and group therapy for all ages. Ashley has worked in a variety of clinical settings including college counseling centers, group therapy clinics, university departmental clinics, private practice and even a home for veterans.

To find out more about Dr. Ashley Freeman and Lepage Associates you can visit their website or call 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

Is your overprotective parenting hurting your child and damaging your marriage? Before we had government agencies in place to advise us on what was good or dangerous for us, we only had one way of finding out this information…through first hand experience. Bumps, scrapes and broken hearts were all part of the novelty that is childhood. However, like anything else, with enough information this has gone away. It seems like parents today want to protect their children from the ails of the world and prevent them from experiencing any of it. This “over parenting” could be harming your child more than helping them. Does your marriage have what it takes to overcome this?

Edie Raether, a self-proclaimed “Change Strategist” is an international keynote speaker, relationship and parenting coach, as well as a bestselling author of several books, including Sex for the Soul and Stop Bullying Now. Focusing on a child’s role in a family unit became a passion of Edie’s. So much so that she developed a character building program from children called “I Believe I can Fly!” As a behavioral psychology expert, Edie has been a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and marriage and family counselor for 30 years and has addressed all relationship, behavioral, health and healing issues. To find out more about Edie Raether you can visit their website or call 704-658-8997 for an appointment. For information about child entitlement and bullying, visit her Stop Bullying Now website.

How important are chemistry and connection in a relationship? When we met that special someone we felt the chemistry to keep it going. It was new. It was exciting. When we fell in love we built a connection that made us feel invincible and as if we could conquer anything as a team. When that connection dwindles in a marriage the effects become apparent in all aspects of the relationship. Is there a way to keep the marriage going when the connection is gone?

Dr. Barry Rand joins us today to help us answer this question. Dr. Rand received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and completed the Advanced Marriage Therapy Training program with Dr.’s John & Julie Gottman of the Gottman Institute in Seattle. Barry has been a NC Licensed Psychologist for 14 years and currently has a private practice in Asheville, NC called Asheville Marriage Therapy. To find out more about Dr. Barry Rand or his practice, Asheville Marriage Therapy, you can visit their website call 828-216-0018 for an appointment.

Could a week long couples cruise be the key to saving your marriage? Gilligan had it all wrong; it takes more than a 3-hour tour. In fact, it takes 7 days. A simple, relaxing 7 days on the water could be the solution you’ve been searching for to save your drowning marriage from ending up like the Titanic. When a marriage is in danger, most couples attend couples counseling as a possible solution. But what if there was an option that would allow for deeper discovery and understanding without the constrictions of a one-hour time limit?

In addition to being an experienced sailor, Dr. Bryce Kaye received his Bachelor’s in psychology from Columbia University, and his Masters and Doctorate in psychology form the University of Illinois. Bryce has published a book on marriage improvement called The Marriage First Aid Kit and is currently working on his new book, When Love & Anger Got Married: Human Paradox & Spiritual Growth. Bryce now has two private practices, the Cary Counseling Center in Cary, NC and the Oriental Counseling Center in New Bern, NC. From the nearby town of Oriental, NC, Bryce and his wife, Helen, run a company called Love Odyssey Charters in which they take one couple at a time on a week-long cruise to different ports of call along the rivers and sounds of North Carolina. While cruising with each couple, Bryce and Helen intensely coach the couple on how to save their troubled marriage. To find out more about Bryce Kaye and Love Odyssey Charters you can visit their website or call 919-460-2516 for more information or to make your reservation.

Is your marriage getting the help and attention it needs to defeat the divorce odds? It seems that divorce is the new “big thing”. With the divorce rate hovering around 50% there have been entire industries and communities built to help the people going through this transition. This year there is even a divorce expo in New York City. What about the expos promoting marriage and making your relationship work, even through the difficult times?

Dr. Don Azevedo left graduate school with a strong desire to strengthen marriages and families. He received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Don’s work has taken him to a variety of locations from warzones in Desert Storm, corporate settings, hospitals and finally private practice. Don is the Director of 3-C Family Services in Cary, North Carolina where he provides help to individuals, couples and families. To find out more about Dr. Don Azevedo and 3-C Family Services you can visit their website or call 919-677-0101 for an appointment.

Can a parent’s advice save your marriage? We’ve feared this day! We thought our chances of escaping this doomed fate were better than average. BUT…it’s finally happened. We’ve finally realized that we have turned into our parents! Leslie Petruk, author of the website OMG! I Sound Just Like My Mother, joins us this week to give us insight on how a parent’s habits or advice can hinder your marriage.

Leslie is a licensed counselor who has been in practice for 15 years. She has specialized training in both marriage and family therapy. She is currently the founder and owner of SteppingStones Counseling & Consulting, a private practice counseling center in Charlotte, NC. With a team of 5 therapists, Leslie and her practice work to provide collaborative counseling services for children, teens, adults, couples and families. SteppingStones is even hosting a women’s self-discovery group on May 3^rd. To find out more about Leslie Petruk and Stepping Stones Counseling & Consulting you can visit their website or call 704-335-6100 for an appointment. For more insight on how your parents habits can have an effect on your relationship, visit OMG! I Sound Just Like My Mother!

Does your spouse’s mid-life crisis mean the end of your marriage? A motorcycle, a bright red convertible, or maybe a new young girlfriend; all of these just scream mid-life crisis. We seem to be able to recognize the obvious signs of a mid-life crisis but how do we handle a situation like this? In a marriage, a mid-life crisis is never a stage that affects only one person.

Dr. Dave Aspenson holds a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill. His natural gift for guiding others led to a position as a Clinical Assistant  Professor of Behavioral Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. After practicing and training in a variety of counseling, medical, and psychiatric settings, Dave opened his own office in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1999 and is now available for private consultation and counseling. To find out more about Dr. Dave Aspenson you can visit his website or call 919-402-9212 for an appointment. To get more information on how to survive a mid-life crisis you can visit Dave’s Mid-Life Crisis website.

Are you still hung up on something that you spouse did in the past? So you fell in love, got married, had kids…then what? To the happy honeymooners it’s not always apparent that marriage is something you have to work on to maintain. After a major marriage changing event a lot of couples go to couples counseling to “repair” their marriage, but then what? What happens after couples counseling if couples aren’t happy or nothing has been resolved?

Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones is owner of KKJ Forensic and Psychological Services in Durham, North Carolina. Katrina has worked with many families during the separation and divorce process and understands the many challenges facing committed couples. She has worked with individuals and couples dealing with issues of infidelity, retirement, and even becoming new parents. Dr. Jones understands that different couples need different approaches to work through their situations at their own pace. To find out more about Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones and KKJ Forensic and Psychological Services you can visit their website or call 919-493-1975 for an appointment.

Do you have what it takes to be an involved father figure? Only in the most recent decades has the idea of the typical family structure shifted. Where it used to be that women would stay home and raise the children, we now see mother’s going back to work. With the roles and responsibilities of every family changing, the parents must change with it. Father’s are stepping up to the plate and taking a more involved role in their children’s life. From preparing meals and helping with chores to taking the children out for an afternoon, fathers are getting more involved in their children’s lives. The question is, do you have what it takes?

Tony Delmedico is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in  Raleigh, North Carolina. Tony works with individuals, couples, children and families to alleviate psychological suffering and improve relationships. Tony is currently working on a manuscript entitled “The Journey Toward Deep Fatherhood”. It’s easy to see that Tony’s passion in life is being a father. Tony has been a traditional, stay-at-home, single, and blended family dad for the last 15 years. He really has seen and done it all. To find out more about Tony Delmedico you can visit his website or call 919-623-8118 for an appointment. To hear more about Tony’s thoughts on fathers you can visit his online blog.

Is your spouse having an affair with their co-worker? They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but does it really? It seems that the more time we spend with someone the more bonded with them we become. We find common interests, form jokes, and grow attachments. In most circumstances this is a good thing, however, when you and your spouse are working long hours this can be very troublesome for any relationship. The time spent apart and in the company of co-workers could drive your spouse right into someone else’s arms. Dr. Katy Sampson joins us today to discuss how your spouses work schedule can affect your love life in more ways than you could have imagined.

Dr. Katy Sampson is a psychologist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC. Katy works with adults, children, couples and families with a wide range of issues. She has assisted couples and families in improving their communication, managing conflict, and dealing with major life transitions. Katy’s a born adventurer who enjoys biking, hiking and experimenting new and exotic foods. To find out more about Dr. Katy Sampson you can visit the Lepage Associates website or call 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

Is your relationship lacking the necessary spice to keep you going? We all hit a plateau in our relationships. Maybe we’re sick of our routine. Maybe the sex has gotten boring and stale. Whatever the cause, we have the solution. Our guest today, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, has all the answers you need to spice up your relationship and make sex exciting again.

Dr. Judy Kuriansky is a woman of many accomplishments in the field of Clinical Psychology. Dr. Judy works as a certified sex therapist, couples counselor, marriage counselor, writer and professor. Dr. Judy  is an internationally respected psychology who teaches at Columbia University Teachers College and is an honorary professor at China’s Beijing Medical School. Dr. Judy has been featured on many radio and television shows, including Oprah, Larry King Live, and CNN. She runs workshops and seminars for public and professional groups worldwide on dating, love and interpersonal relations. Dr. Judy is also the author or many relationship-focused books, including: Generation Sex, The Complete Idiots Guide to a Healthy Relationship, The Complete Idiots Guide to Dating, as well as The Complete Idiots Guide to Tantric Sex. In her free time Dr. Judy is humanitarian and peace activist. Her band has played for the Dalai Lama and as an NGO representative for the United Nations she has helped educate others on HIV prevention. To find out more about Dr. Judy Kuriansky you can visit her website or call 212-307-6771 for an appointment.

Do your marital fights psychologically damage your children? It is impossible not to fight with your spouse at some point in your marriage. It’s life. But have you ever stopped to consider what the effects are for the people who have the infortune to overhear the bickering, such as your children? Our guest, Bethlyn Johnson, says the effects of fighting can forever change your children’s personal well-being and social interactions.

Bethlyn Johnson is a counselor at Believe in Therapy of Raleigh, NC. New to North Carolina, Bethlyn recently moved from Illinois, where she received her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Psychology, as well as a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. Bethlyn has worked with individuals and couples of all sorts using her approach of cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as mindfulness and biofeedback. To find out more about Bethlyn Johnson you can visit the Believe in Therapy website or call 919-755-0545 for an appointment.

Have you ever wondered if there was some secret to a happy life and blissful relationship? We have the answers you’ve been looking for. We spend a large portion of our lives dating and trying to find the person that matches us perfect; someone who we’d be willing to share the rest of our live with. We put so much effort into getting this process right because it is such an important part of our life and our future. Dr. Tami Kulbatski believes that a strong relationship with a significant other is the single most noteworthy contributor to our happiness and life satisfaction. Her insight and tips will help increase the level of positivity in any relationship.

Dr. Kulbatski holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Dr. Tami Kulbatski runs a successful private practice in Toronto, Canada and she is the founder and director of the Toronto Centre for Positive Psychology. In her private practice, Dr. Kulbatski provides psychotherapeutic treatment for a diverse range of clients, including couples, individuals and adolescents.  Through her Centre, Dr. Tami provides evidence-based courses, lectures, seminars, and workshops to enhance people’s movement towards a greater well-being and happier, more fulfilled life. Dr. Kulbatski recently published a book called “Ten Commandments for Couples”, which is available on Amazon. In her interview, Dr. Kulbatski reveals how to get a free sample of one of her 10 Commandment contributions from her book.

To find out more about Dr. Tami Kulbatski you can visit her website. For more information about the Toronto Centre for Positive Psychology please visit them online or call 416-708-7022 for an appointment. To get daily tips on increasing the level of happiness in your relationship you can “Like” the Toronto Centre for Positive Psychology on Facebook.

Are you ready to have children, but your spouse is not on board? Having children is a very important part of any relationship. This large commitment is exhilarating for some and terrifying for others. Some people get so used to living only for themselves that the idea of children seems impossible. The real problem arises when one spouse is ready to make this life change, while their partner is not. What can be done when a couple is stuck at this impasse? Our guest today has the answer to this question.

Dr. Gina LaFrazza is a psychologist at Lepage Associates in Durham, NC where she provides counseling and evaluation services to individuals of all ages. Couples work with Dr. LaFrazza for a variety of concerns, such as transitioning to parenthood, infertility, managing boundaries with extended family, jealousy and trust, as well as increasing sexual and emotional intimacy. Dr. LaFrazza holds a Doctorate and Master’s in Clinical Psychology, as well as a second Master’s in Educational Psychology. To find out more about Dr. Gina LaFrazza you can visit the Lepage Associates website or call 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

Are your intimacy issues to blame for those extra pounds that you’ve put on? We’ve heard of couples who begin to pack on the pounds when they are in a committed relationship and feel comfortable with each other, but there may be an underlying reason to this new weight gain. Our guest today will let us in on how the ups and downs of our relationships can effect our eating habits, as well as how to prevent those unnecessary binges.

Karen Koenig is an expert on the psychology of eating. For over 30 years Karen has been working to help troubled eaters, who have been stuck in a cycle of dieting and bingeing, to break free and access a healthier lifestyle that will keep them at a healthy weight for life. Karen has a double Master’s in Education and Social Work. Karen is the international  author of four books that focus on eating and weight, including Nice Girls Finish Fat, The Rules of “Normal” Eating, The food and Feelings Workbook, as well as What Every Therapist Needs to Know about Treating Eating and Weight Issues. Karen’s free Facebook app, called APPetite, will be available this online this month. Karen also moderates a Yahoo Food and Feelings board, as well as a weekly blog for Gurze books.

Is human nature to blame for your lackluster relationship? Sometimes we get so preoccupied with the hustle and bustle around us that we forget we are only human. We too are animals at the base of it all. The innate instincts that we all possess can do anything from save our life to end our relationship. Our guest today has insight into how things like our brain activity and physiological functions can affect our relationship.

Chad Jordan, of Systemic Health Resources in Raleigh, NC, has been working to help couples in a different way then most other psychological professionals. Chad works with the psychological and relational resources that emphasize the interconnected nature of the human condition. Chad is a North Carolina native having received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from UNC and his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Appalachian State. To find out more about Chad Jordan and Systemic Health Resources you can visit their website at or call 1-800-755-6309 for an appointment.

Is your relationship lacking the intimacy it once had? With the pressure of a busy schedules, economic stress, and the multiple roles we all fill, it is only expected that we are all stressed and exhausted by the end of the day. With our energy levels tapped, our intimacy levels drop too. Carla Rosinski believes that a lack of sexual intimacy can be a symptom of a lack of intimacy in other areas.

Carla Rosinski, founder of Rosinski Therapy and Consultation in Raleigh, NC, has been focusing on counseling families, individuals, and couples for over 10 years. Carla is a licensed professional counselor with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. When Carla isn’t working with couples she enjoys traveling and spending time with her pup at the dog park. To find out more about Carla Rosinski and Rosinski Therapy and Consultation you can visit her website or call 919-724-1181 for an appointment.

Find yourself at odds with your spouse about how to spend your hard earned money? Although no one likes to admit to being materialistic, we all are. How can we not be? Our entire society runs off one thing…money. We need it to put a roof over our head, food in our bodies and function in this world. With something like this playing such a huge role in our lives it is bound to come up in our relationships.

Jessie Sell, a marriage and family therapist with a private practice in Durham, NC believes in using an interpersonal approach with her clients, meaning the better relationship between her and the client, the better the success. Over the last 12 years Jessie has worked in a variety of settings including higher education and non-profit agencies. Now she works with couples hoping to overcome issues in their relationships. To find out more about Jessie Sell you can visit her website or call 919-225-3478 for an appointment.

Ever feel like your spouse isn’t listening? Some people think that dating and getting to know someone can be the hardest part of a relationship. It requires a great amount of effort on both parts to keep things progressing. However, the hardest part of a relationship is actually the stage that most largely encapsulates a relationship, the “comfortable phase”. We know our partner so well we could tell you their schedule without hesitation. We know all of their stories and have heard all of their jokes. It’s at this point in a relationship that a lot of people tend to tune the other spouse out and begin navigating on autopilot. This lack of effort can lead to feelings of disconnection with your spouse. Our guest today believes that mindfulness is what can will help to keep your relationship fresh and to keep you heard.

Dr. Jessica Barry of Wynns Family Psychology in Cary, NC joins us today. Jessica earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University in Washington D.C. Jessica predominantly works with children, teens, couples and families that have difficulty coping with a wide range of social, emotional and behavioral issues. Jessica’s doctoral dissertation, which will prove especially useful today, was written about the use of Mindfulness techniques. When Jessica isn’t busy working with couples she enjoys spending time hiking, drawing, and cooking with her fiancé. To find out more about Dr. Jessica Barry you can visit the Wynns Family Psychology website or call 919-467-7777 for an appointment.

Are baby blues hurting your family and spouse? Some of us have spent our entire lives dreaming of what life would be like once we were all grown up. We planned out our weddings, our ideal mates, and our perfect nuclear family with 2.5 children. It is when life does not go exactly according to plan that we begin to panic and loose control of our lives. Childbirth can be one of those hazy moments in life. We plan for months about a new addition to the family, but once we welcome this new little bundle into the world, life doesn’t always become the sunshine-filled dream we expected.

Dr. Sara Rosenquist is a specialist in the field of dealing with postpartum depression in women, and couples. Sara’s book, After The Stork: The Couple’s guide to Preventing and Overcoming Postpartum Depression, deals explicitly with these issues. Sara has a very extensive global background, which has allowed her to communicate easily with others. Over her lifetime Sara has lived in Tunisia, Argentina, Uruguay, Thailand, and El Salvador before coming back to the United States to study at Duke University, where she received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. To find out more about Dr. Sara Rosenquist you can visit her website or call 919-872-4648 for an appointment. Sara’s book, After The Stork: The Couple’s guide to Preventing and Overcoming Postpartum Depression, is available on Amazon.com.

Is constant interference from your in-laws killing your marriage? We’ve all seen a football game where everything went from fantastic to devastating in mere minutes. It looks like a clear win; your team is ahead, defeating all obstacles in their path. Then BOOM, out of nowhere interference by the other team turns the game around entirely. What was once an easy game turns messy and complicated very quickly. A good relationship can overcome a lot of obstacles that the world throws at it, but constant interference from an outside source can create larger rifts that are hard to overcome.

Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio is Clinical Director at Lepage Associates in Durham, NC where she provides counseling and evaluation services to individuals of all ages. She is experienced in individual, couples, and group therapy and specializes in couples issues. She holds her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Interpersonal Dynamics, as well as a Master’s degree in Community and Clinical Psychology. To find out more about Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio you can visit the Lepage Associates website or call 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

Is your friendship with your child hurting your marriage? Only a few shorts years ago, or so it seems, we were all children ourselves; laughing and playing with our friends, disobeying our parents, and tormenting the family pet. Before we knew it we were adults who were getting married and having children of our own. When time seems to fly and get away from us, we often forget that we, ourselves, are not children anymore. This can be especially hard when dealing with our own children and a parent’s natural desire for acceptance and love. Sometimes it may seem that the easiest path is to be a friend, rather than a parent but these actions could be harming your marriage.

To give us more insight into the situation we have Dr. Laura Green of Wynns Family Psychology in Cary, NC.  Dr. Greene specializes in child and family therapy and child evaluations. Before joining Wynns Family Psychology, Dr. Greene received her Bachelor’s degree from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Psychology from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She has worked in a variety of settings, ranging from outpatient mental health centers to school systems. To find out more about Dr. Laura Greene you can visit the Wynns Family Psychology website or call 919-467-7777 for an appointment.

“Relationships aren’t destroyed by cataclysmic arguments. They are eroded by the little things that happen over time. We’re all excited when a relationship starts. We watch what we do. We edit our actions and mind our words. We gloss over the details because we love the dream of what could be. We sacrifice the now for what we want in the future. As our relationship grows, we get comfortable. We stop editing ourselves and return to our old habits… Respect is eroded through the forgetful actions that make you feel as if you don’t matter like you once did…. Yes, relationships usually end in cataclysmic fight, but that is not where they are torn apart”. This insider view of the deterioration of a relationship comes from author Jeff Cannon who believes that meditation is the solution to resolving this age-old dilemma.

Jeff Cannon is the author of the book The Simple Truth: Meditation and Minfulness for the Modern World. Jeff was a fast-track entrepreneur with a portfolio of successful businesses, multiple book publishings, produced documentaries and ran his own public relations agency. Then it all came to a crashing halt at the end of 2009. That day he woke up on a hospital bed recovering from a ten-hour surgery that removed six of seven brain tumors. A long time devotee of the marital arts and yoga, Jeff used meditation to reboot and retrain his brain. He learned firsthand how the brain is hard wired just as it had been 40,000 years ago. More important he learned how it could be reprogrammed through such practices as meditation and mindfulness. Jeff’s book is now available on Amazon.com. To find out more about Jeff Cannon you can visit his website online.

Are your diverse parenting styles breaking apart your marriage? Being part of a couple and getting married can be a very difficult process. You have two people from different backgrounds and lifestyles, coming together to start their life together. Their differences in opinion and lifestyle can be a relationship hot spot for conflict. Things tend to get even more complicated when children are brought into the picture. Although we love our children, all parents have different ideas for how they want to raise and discipline their children. Whether our preferences came from personal experience or gained knowledge, each parent may have a different idea for what it means to bring up their children. Dr. Kristen Wynns believes that it is not about how your raise your children, but that you do it together as a team.

Dr. Wynns is a child and adolescent psychologist who owns a specialty practice in Cary, NC called Wynns Family Psychology. She has a Ph.D. and Master’s in Clinical Psychology from UNC Greensboro. Dr. Wynns recently debuted a new parenting website called No Wimpy Parenting with services available to help parents struggling with behavior and discipline problems at home. To find out more about Dr. Kristen Wynns you can visit the Wynns Family Psychology website or call 919-467-7777 for an appointment.

Are you the outcast in your stepfamily? Dating and marriage is a process that is complicated enough on it’s own, never mind coming into a family that has already been established. Marrying someone with children from a previous relationship can be a delicate mind field that requires a certain finesse to master.

Certified Master Stepfamily Coach, Claudette Chenevert, found herself in a similar situation over twenty years ago when she, a single mom to a 6 year old boy, married her husband. She became a stepmom to two girls. After several years worth of failures and successes Claudette was able to determine what steps needed to be taken to successfully integrate oneself into an established family and make it function on its own. From the constant presence of an ex to taking on a parenting role over night, Claudette knows how to handle it all. To find out more about Claudette or her approach, you can visit her Stepmom Coach website.

The current economic deficit has placed a significant strain on our wallets, our jobs, but most importantly, our relationships. Divorce rates are an unsettling 51% today, which means half of all marriages are ending in divorce. What is even more disturbing is that out of the couples getting divorced, approximately 80% of them attribute their failed marriage to disputes over finances. While these statistics may seem daunting, there is hope. There are ways to reduce the burden that financial difficulty has on marriage, and by enacting some of these techniques, your marriage will have a better chance for success.

Dr. Tina Lepage, founder of Lepage Associates in Durham, NC, specializes in couples and marriage therapy and helps to rebuild marriages on a daily basis. She has a master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology and an additional master’s in Management, degrees which prove exceptionally helpful for this topic. Financial stress effecting a relationship is more common than most would be believe. To help those dealing with this situation Lepage Associates have prepared an article, Managing Your Budget and Your Marriage: The Key to a Healthy Relationship.

To find out more about Dr. Tina Lepage you can visit the Lepage Associates website or call 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

Is your inability to read your partner ruining your relationship? We’ve all stumbled into those relationship traps where it can feel like we’re constantly sticking our foot in our mouths. Anything we say or do seems to land us even further into hot water with our spouse. Perhaps you’ve been stuck in similar situations in the past? Relationship coach, Dave Elliott, thinks that the only tools you need to solve this problem, for now and ever, are a hug and a kiss.

When it comes to making sense of the often mystifying topic of relationships, Dave Elliott is an international Relationship Coach and human behavior specialist who breaks down complex concepts into easily understandable principles and practices. With his deep understanding of human motivational psychology, Dave helps people pull back the curtain in a non-judgmental way on why they and their partner do what they do over and over again. Dave travels around the nation working with groups and individuals supporting Anthony Robbins, one of the world’s foremost authorities on peak performance psychology. In 2011, Dave was honored as a Man of the Year candidate for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Dave joins us today to talk to us about how your relationship can be saved and revitalized using his H.U.G. & K.I.S.S. Hierarchy. To find out more Dave Elliot and the H.U.G.S. & K.I.S.S.E.S. program you can visit Relationship Fix Now or Legendary Love For Life.

Has your fairy tale marriage turned into a nightmare? Ripped from the pages of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice we’ve been made to believe that happily ever after is possible. People spend years looking for their perfect partner and come to find that all the spark and je ne sais quoi that had attracted them to their partners has now fizzled into an unhappy marriage. Family therapist, Lesli Doares, doesn’t believe in having only two choices: either remaining in a miserable marriage or getting a divorce; Lesli believe in happily ever afters.

Leslie Doares is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Cary, NC. In her practice, Balance Family Therapy, her focus is on helping couples build strong, secure relationships. It is her belief that marriage is a different kind of relationship and, with the proper tools and techniques, most couples can have a happy and successful relationship. Lesli bring both her personal experience and professional training to her work with couples. Her passionate belief in marriage has led to the development of a five step theoretical approach that Lesli detailed in her book Blueprint for a Lasting Marriage: How to Create Your Happily Ever After With More Intention, Less Work.

To find out more Lesli Doares and her practice you can visit the Balanced Family Therapy website or call for an appointment at 919-924-0463. Lesli’s book, Blueprint for a Lasting Marriage: How to Create Your Happily Ever After With More Intention, Less Work, is now available on Amazon.com.

Anxiety is reaching epidemic proportions with nearly 50% of Americans meeting the criteria for an anxiety disorder at some point in their life. We worry about money, our health, safety, car accidents, whether or not people like us, traveling, work, and more. All this worry takes a huge toll-wasting an enormous amount of time and energy that would be better spent elsewhere. An often overlooked area of concern is the impact of anxiety on our close relationships. Dr. Christine Korol is a cognitive-behavioral therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders and sees the consequences of untreated anxiety on the relationships of many of her patients.

Dr. Christine Korol is a psychologist specializing in anxiety and stress in adults and children and is currently practicing in Calgary, Alberta. She has worked for many years, in both private practice and in hospital settings, and is a former lecturer at the University of British Columbia. Christine is also a cartoonist and author of the blog Wired to Worry and is currently working on an illustrated guide on anxiety management. To find out more about Dr. Korol you can visit her site, Therapy Works.

They say that once trust is lost that it can never be regained. The ultimate betrayal of trust in a relationship is, without a doubt, an affair. People often don’t realize the consequences of their actions until after the act has been committed. Undoubtedly, the hardest part of an affair is when you come to the point where you need to tell your spouse exactly what has happened. Like anything else, there is a right and a wrong way to break this heavy news to your spouse.

Dr. Janet Savia joins us to discuss the effects that an affair can have on your relationship and how to break the news to your spouse. Janet practices in Durham, NC with Lepage Associates, where she helps couples repair marriages damaged by trust issues on a daily basis. She has a master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Savia works with helping people with general stress and life transitions, and personal growth pursuits. To find out more about Dr. Janet Savia you can visit the Lepage Associates website or call 919-570-000 for an appointment.

Is your constant bickering ruining your relationship? We’ve all been in a relationship where the fights just never seem to end. We bicker about the little things, the big things, and the things that would matter to no one but us. What does all of this constant fighting do to our relationships? Acclaimed author Laurie Puhn joins us to discuss how fighting affects your relationship, as well as how to overcome the endless fighting cycle.

Laurie has a Bachelor’s and law degree from Harvard University. Formerly a corporate attorney, she is now a recognized expert in the field of couples mediation and conflict resolution. Laurie has a private practice in couples mediation in Manhattan. Her empowering, fast and simple mediation approach for keeping relationships strong and healthy is what sets her apart from other relationship experts. She is the author of the national bestseller “Fight Less, Love More: 5-Minute Conversations to Change Your Relationship without Blowing Up or Giving In”. When Laurie isn’t busy writing books she is often featured as an expert guest on shows such as Good Morning America, The Early Show, Fox News Channel, Weekend Today, 20/20, and CNN. Her relationship communication advice has been featured in Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, Redbook, Newsday, and The New York Times. Lastly, Laurie is also a syndicated columnist and Huffington Post blogger.

To find out more about Laurie or her book you can visit www.fightlesslovemore.com. Laurie’s book is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for purchase.

Is your hectic schedule damaging your relationship? We all have busy schedules filled with work, appointments, children’s activities, and family events. No matter how much we seem to get done we can’t seem to muster any more free time. This lack of time can begin to affect our families, and even our spouse. Dr. Kristen Wynns joins us to discuss why you should always make time to do three things with your spouse: eat, sleep and play.

Dr. Kristen Wynns holds a Doctorate and Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and is a Licensed Psychologist. She is founder and owner of Wynns Family Psychology, is a therapy and testing specialist for children, adolescents, and families. Dr. Wynns is experienced in individual, family, group, play, and couples therapy. To find out more about Dr. Wynn you can visit www.wynnsfamilypsychology.com or call 919-467-7777 for an appointment.

Ever felt like ending your marriage after a bad argument or affair? There could be a better solution. Marriage is one of the best and worst things you will ever go through in life. From arguments, lifestyle changes, children and even infidelity; there never seems to be a rule on how exactly you should handle each of the different events that life throws at you.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “go-to” couples who’d be through it all before?

Jason and Debby Coleman have been happily married for 22 years. They’ve been through it all. They’ve dealt with infidelity, lifestyle changes, children, and anything else that life could throw at them. Instead of giving up and walking out they decided to work through their issues and record their solutions into a book called Discovering Your Amazing Marriage, now available on Amazon.com. To find out more about Jason & Debby Coleman you can visit their website at www.youramazingmarriage.com.

Maybe you and your spouse started out having great sex on a regular basis. It might have been spontaneous, playful, energetic, and enjoyable. But over time, with hectic routines, kids to care for, and careers to balance, your sex life has suffered. Are you having sex less often? When you do have sex is it routine and unimaginative? Has the romance and adventure slipped away as the years have gone by? Many marriages suffer when the sex becomes rote and predictable or just doesn’t happen as often. Sexual intimacy is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy, happy marriage. Psychologist Colette Segalla joins us to teach us about how to re-vitalize your sex life and improve your satisfaction with sex and your marriage.

Colette Segalla is a psychologist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC. Colette has extensive training and experience working with people of all ages, with special training in the field of adult relationships. She has used her integrated approach to help lots of couples on both their individual and relationship problems in order to improve their relationships. To find out more about Colette, or to book an appointment, visit www.lepageassociates.com or call 919-570-0000.

Are your actions as a parent sabotaging your child and spouse for life? Dr. Mike Daniels joins us to discuss the new phenomena of “teacup parenting”. We do our best to make sure that we raise our children to be responsible young adults. We nurture and care for them the best that we know how. However, there is a fine line between parenting and obsession. It seems that there are parents today who have too active a role in their childrens life that it is actually stunting the social, intellectual, and emotional growth of the child, not to mention sabotaging the romantic relationships in a parent’s life.

Dr. Mike Daniels completed his undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina, where he majored in English Education, as well as Psychology. Mike spent twelve years working as a high school English teacher and athletic coach. Mike left teaching to obtain his Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Mike now works for Wynns Family Psychology in Cary, NC.

To find out more about Mike you can always check out the Wynns Family Psychology website at www.wynnsfamilypsychology.com or call 919-467-7777 to book an appointment.

Should you stay married or not? Are the issues in your relationship big enough to warrant a divorce. No matter how perfect a relationship may seem to the outside observer, there are always issues within a relationship that put stress on each of the partners. Although we may love our spouse, we can find ourselves questioning the relationship. It could be the annoying habit of one spouse or a lack of communication and respect. Several problems could leave us wondering if the relationship is really worth all of the effort. Unless the problem is acknowledged and resolved, this could spell a split, or even a divorce, for some.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Robin Siebold has worked with individuals and organizations imparting the skills, insights and strategies that make life more manageable and meaningful. She specializes in divorce and relationship issues, communication skills, and codependency. Robin is a licensed mental health counselor and maintains a private practice in Florida. Robin has recently published a book called To Divorce or Not: Reflections of the Self, which is now available on Amazon. To find out more about Robin you can always check out her website at www.robinsiebold.com.

They say that hindsight is 20/20. We often never see the real problems in a relationship until after they have exploded. With couples divorcing at an alarming rate, it may be time to call on a new relationship expert- someone who deals with divorce. There is no better way to learn than from your mistakes; or even better, the mistakes of others. Judge Lynn Toler has worked with divorcing couples for years. She has seen couples at their worst and has been able to use this experience for the good of all relationships.

Judge Lynn Toler is a graduate of Harvard University and The University of Pennsylvania Law School. She has elected and served as judge on the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court. Lynn has hosted such shows as Power of Attorney, Divorce Court, and Decision House. Lynn is also a frequent guest on the NPR show News and Notes. With all of this going on, Lynn has somehow managed to write two books. Her first, My Mother’s Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius, as well as Put It In Writing, a book that gives readers concrete, conflict-free solutions to difficult situations that arise.  To find out more about Lynn, please visit www.JudgeLynn.com. You can catch Judge Lynn in action on Divorce Court, airing weekdays in syndication nationwide. To find out where to watch, check your local listings or go to www.divorcecourt.com.

It is possible that the expression “opposites attract” could be as old as the concept of dating itself. We hear stories of good girls going for the bad guys, or a tight laced accountant falling for an outgoing actress. In these relationships there seems to be a balance between the two personalities that makes the relationship harmonious. This sensitive balance, if disturbed, could mean terrible things for a relationship. Relationship therapist Dr. Stephen Betchen joins us to discuss how keeping a balance of conflict between partners is the key to happy and healthy relationship.

Dr. Stephen Betchen is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified sex therapist with a private practice in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University’s Graduate Program in Couple and Family Therapy, and a Senior Supervisor and Lecturer in the Post-Graduate Training Program for Couple and Family Therapy at the Council for Relationships in Philadelphia. He contributes regularly to both scholarly journals and popular national magazines. Stephen has just released a book, entitled Magnetic Partners: Discover How the Hidden Conflict That Once Attracted You to Each Other is Now Driving You Apart, now available on Amazon.com. To find out more about Dr. Betchen you can visit www.magneticpartners.net.

When we watch the interaction that occurs between the sexes we are often left wondering why such a huge communication gap still exists between men and women. Popular media has made the world conscious of this idea that women speak in a code that very few men have the ability to decipher. This imbalance can prove disastrous in dating and married life. Lucky for us, we are joined this week by dating and relationship advisor Kiai Kim.

Kiai, also known by her writing alias “Wing Girl Kim”, is author of the book Alpha Dog: A Man’s Guide to Dating. This book centers on Kiai’s foundation of leadership principles and the Jungian personality type theory. When Kiai isn’t helping others via her book, Twitter, or blog- she writes for an online men’s magazine, The Rugged.

Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in the day? Sure, we all say this, but it seems with each passing day our plates are loaded with more and more activities that we have to try and cram in. Remember the good ole’ days where you had time to go out to a nice dinner date with your loved one? Those were the days pre-children. Once children came into the picture, time seemed to fast-forward. We no longer had time for ourselves, let alone our spouse. All too often this is an issue that plagues many couples. The romance and marital bliss seem to deteriorate once children enter the equation. However, according to Dr. Julia Jacobs, this does not have to the be the case.

Dr. Julia Jacobs has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC. Julia has experience working with individuals, couples and groups of all ages. Most importantly, she has experience with couples who have children. You can schedule an appointment by visiting www.LepageAssociates.com or calling 919.572.0000.

Have you ever felt suffocated in your relationship? Perhaps you feel like you and your spouse are always fighting. It would seem as through the fights and arguments have consumed your relationship whole! No matter what you do, you can’t seem to escape from one argument before you’re in another brawl with your spouse. When you are stuck in this seemingly endless loop, the best person to call on could be your spouse.

Dr. Tina Tessina, a licensed psychotherapist who has been practicing marriage and family therapy in California for over 30 years returns the show this week to discuss her book “How to Be a Couple and Still Be Free”. Tina has been featured on Oprah and Larry King. She has her own radio show and online blog. Tina has also authored over a dozen books, including “Money, Sex and Kids”, as well as “The Commuter Marriage” which have been featured on our site previously. You can find out more about Tina by visiting www.TinaTessina.com.

Let’s face facts, no relationship is perfect! In the “relationship road trip” there are potholes, speed bumps and road kill that all couples have to try steer clear of. More often than not, when we have stopped paying attention, we run into something we didn’t mean to hit.  The best way to protect yourself, and your spouse, is to spot the troubled areas on the road ahead, before you hit them head on.

Dr. Karen Sherman joins us to discuss how to set expectations and enjoy your relationship to the fullest.  Karen is a licensed psychologist in New York and has been in private practice for over 20 years. Karen focuses on relationship and marriage counseling and how to help people achieve their greatest potential. Karen is author of “Mindfulness and The Art of Choice: Transform Your Life” and the co-author of “Marriage Magic! Find It, Keep It, and Make It Last”.  Karen is a featured author on such online forums as Yahoo Personals, ThirdAge.com, and HitchedMag.com.

Karen’s books are available on Amazon.com. To find out more about Karen you can visit her websites, www.ChoiceRelationships.com or www.DrKarenSherman.com.

It takes a lot of moving pieces to make a relationship work; such as patience and compromise. However, perhaps the most important element to any relationship is trust. Without trust a relationship can become stunted from growth. When trust is taken away from a relationship, it can crumble on it’s very foundation. Trust is one of the hardest items to attain and even more difficult to earn back once it is lost.

Dr. Abigail Hirsch, an accomplished scholar of such prestigious academic institutions as Harvard, University of Colorado, and University of Massachusetts,  joins us to discuss how to put trust back into your relationship. Abigail’s background in Clinical Psychology is the driving force behind her website Power of  Two, a marriage counseling website. The results from her online counseling service, Power of Two, have been so successful that the project has received a $2.5 million federal grant dollars. You can find out more about Abigail by visiting www.poweroftwomarriage.com or by calling 877-411-4948

For most couples dealing with infidelity, the idea of anything good coming from an an affair seems impossible. When trust and intimacy are shattered, it’s easy to believe that nothing can ever fix them. But are couples who stay together and work through the issues surrounding infidelity able to rebuild the relationship to healthy place?

Dr. Molly Parks returns to the show to examine what some of the common triggers are for affairs, what kind of specific impact that usually has for each spouse, and what good, if any, can come to couples who choose to deal with the issues and work through an affair.

Molly has over a decade of experience helping both adults and children deal with emotionally challenging issues ranging from social isolation and relationship issues to PTSD and trauma victims. She practices with Lepage Associates in Durham. You can schedule an appointment by calling 919.572.0000, or by visiting LepageAssociates.com.

We often read about happy couples in romance novels and see healthy relationships in movies. This overexposure to the “ideal couple” often leaves us questioning our own relationships. We find flaws in our relationships that we often have no idea of how to overcome. Our lack of proper communication and skills can often leave couples wondering “why did I marry you anyway?”

We’re joined this week by Mrs. Barbara Bartlein. Barbara is also the author of the book Why Did I Marry You Anyway? Overcoming the Myths That Hinder a Happy Marriage. Barbara is a registered nurse and holds a master’s degree in physical and mental health. She is a licensed psychotherapist and has had a private practice for over 20 years that specializes in couples and families therapy. Barbara has worked with hundreds of couples as they have struggled to save their marriages.

Barbara’s book is avilable on Amazon.com. You can find out more about Barbara, as well as her current and future book releases at www.whydidimarryyouanyway.com.

Do you obsess over suspicions of your spouse’s infidelity (either physical or emotional)? Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio returns to the show do discuss the reasons why we harbor suspicion towards our spouses and why some people are more likely than others to be bothered by it constantly. She also illuminates the difference between a healthy amount of suspicion that can be helpful in identifying issues before they become problems, and when it crosses the line to become a problem that can hurt the marriage.

Dr. Imbraguglio practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and helps both adults and children with a wide range of emotional issues. She has provided counseling for individuals, groups, couples, and families. You can learn more about Nicole at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling 919.572.0000

Today’s world is one of instant satisfaction and gratification. We want what we want when we want it. Before we know it our interest quickly fades and we are bored with our latest toy. In a world that teaches us out with the old and in with the new, how can anyone expect a marriage to last when it’s no longer shiny and new?

Dr. David Clarke joins us to share his experience in turning around marriages that are on the brink of divorce. David’s book, I Don’t Want a Divorce: A 90 Day Guide to Saving Your Marriage, uses his 20+ years of experience  helping couples to get beyond the old destructive habits and build brand-new habits with your spouse in only 90 days.

David has authored an additional 9 books. He has a Master’s Degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, a PhD in Clinical Psychology and 25 years in private practice specializing in couple’s therapy. To find out more information about Dr. David Clarke, including seminar information, you can visit his website at www.davidclarkeseminars.com. David’s book is also available for purchase on Amazon.com.

Do your days seem to always be filled with obligations and responsibilities to others? Chores to do, errands to run, children to chauffeur? With all the havoc of a modern world it is hard to make time for oneself, let alone their spouse. This hectic lifestyle is often what leaves a couple’s relationship in a state of lackluster. The flirtation, fun, and magic all seem to have fallen to the wayside. Luckily there is an easy and quick way to restore flirtation and fun back into  any relationship.

Monica Stroebel joins us and reveals secretes from her new book The Compliment Quotient. Monica shares simple ways to introduce excitement and  flirtation back into a stale relationship with one simple technique. Monica’s book is now available through Amazon, as well as Barnes & Noble. To learn more about Monica or her book, The Compliment Quotient, visit Monica’s website at complimentquotient.com.

Ever feel like you can never say or do the right thing in your wife’s eyes? Do you aim to impress and end up only causing her stress? We have the keys to making the special woman in your life smile! From remembering the little things, like anniversaries and birthdays, to planning a romantic getaway. We have the secrets that you’ll need to make your other half happy.

Dr. Steevie Jane Parks currently runs her own private practice in Carrboro, NC and has been helping couples with issues for more than 20 years. Equipped with a degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maine, Dr. Parks shares with us the secrets of making your wife happy. You can find out more about Steevie by visiting drsteeviejaneparks.com.

Is your busy work schedule, kids, or financial issues making it hard for you and your partner to feel connected? Is trying to keep up with everything and everyone just weakening your marriage? Stephanie Ladd joins us to discuss how couples can re-ignite their marriage and overcome the lull of long term relationships.

Stephanie Ladd has been practicing Marriage and Family Therapy for 17 years. Before moving to the Chapel Hill/Carboro area she practiced  in California. For several years Ladd has run communication skill groups and parenting classes. You can find out more about Stephanie by visiting saladd.com or by calling (919) 883-9093.

Has weight become an issue in your marriage? Are obesity issues causing health, intimacy, and body image issues for you or your spouse? Dr. Paulomi Raiji joins us to discuss the prevalence of obesity problems in marriages the obesity rate in the country rises, as well covering which spouse is most to suffer from the physical and emotional issues that come with weight gain. She also covers the impact weight gain can have on intimacy in a marriage and where to draw the line between weight gain with age an serious health issues.

Paulomi practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC, where in addition to providing holistic clinical services, including cognitive behavioral therapy, guided imagery, and meditation, she specializes in body image and self esteem issues. You can find out more about Paulomi by visiting LepageAssociates.com, or by calling 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

If you or your spouse suffer from depression, you already know how hard it can be on both of you. Maybe you feel like you don’t know how to handle your partner’s depression, or on the other hand, maybe you don’t think your partner is really understanding what you’re going through. How do you continue to relate to each other when negative feelings can’t just be pushed aside?

Colette Segalla, a psychologist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC, is here to discuss what depression feels like to partners on both sides, and what you can both do to keep your relationship strong in spite of it.

You can find out more about Colette by visiting LepageAssociates.com, or by calling 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

Does it seem like your fights with your spouse turn explosive on a regular basis? Do you often find the argument reach the “point of no return”? Kristin Wynns, Ph.D., returns to the show to talk about how to avoid the critical mass in a relationship and keep the arguments from getting explosive and hard to resolve.

Dr. Wynns has a private practice in Cary, NC and specializes in therapy for children, adolescents, and families. You can find out more about Dr. Wynns practice and services at her website,www.wynnsfamilypsychology.com, or by calling her office at 919.805.0182.

When you have a child, everything changes. But does that mean your marriage can’t be what it was before? Does it feel like you and your spouse are both connected to the kids, but not to each other?  Rhona Berens, Ph.D., joins the show to talk about how things change in a marriage after the birth of a child, and what you can do to make sure that you stay connected to each other.

Rhona is a relationship coach and the founder of Parent Alliance, which provides advice and resources to new parents who want to strengthen their relationship with each other. She keeps a blog on parenting issues at ParentAlliance.com, and also offers workshops on getting the most out of your relationship now that you’re parents.

Do you and your spouse work in the same field or business – maybe even in the same office? Do you feel like you can never really get away from work even when you’re at home, or are clashes at home bleeding into your work?  Dr. Julia Jacobs joins us on the show to discuss the things couples experience when working together, and how you and your spouse can minimize your personal conflict both in and out of the workplace.

Julia has a Doctorate and Masters in Clinical Psychology, and practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, North Carolina. She’s experienced in individual, couples, and group therapy for people of all ages. You can find out more about her online at LepageAssociates.com, or call her office at 919-572-0000 to set up an appointment.

Do you feel disappointment that your marriage isn’t the storybook romance you’d hoped for? Do you find yourself wondering if maybe your partner isn’t the one you were meant to live happily ever after with after all? Jon and Beverly Meyerson are here to talk about what “happily ever after” really means – what really happens after the fairytale wedding, and what you can do to ensure your own happy ending with your spouse.

Jon and Beverly are a married couple who have helped hundreds of other couples both together and on their own – Jon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Beverly is a Relational Coach – and are the authors of a weekly relationship newsletter and the book After the Glass Slipper: 8 Proven Steps to Lasting Love.

You can find them online at AfterTheGlassSlipper.com, where you can find out more about their book, their advice column, and more. After the Glass Slipper can be purchased from Amazon.

Lately, Facebook has been all over the news and on many people’s minds. But does it feel like this tool for social connection is actually driving you and your partner apart, or are you worried about its potential to do so? K. Jason and Kelli Krafsky join the show to discuss how Facebook and other social networking sites can affect your marriage, and how you can use it as a positive tool for communication.

Jason has been writing on marriage and leading training programs in marriage issues for over a decade. He and Kelli have been married for over fifteen years, and together, they’ve been writing articles on marriage since early 2009. Having faced many of the questions about Facebook and marriage firsthand, they’ve been featured on various shows and publications as  “The Social Media Couple,” and have published a book together on the subject called Facebook and Your Marriage.

You can find them online at SocialMediaCouple.com, and their book is available on their website or through Amazon and other booksellers.

Does it feel like even when the fights between you and your partner are over, that things aren’t really resolved? Do you feel like you just aren’t connecting?

Dr. Nancy Dreyfus joins the show to explain why superficial resolutions don’t fix the underlying problem, and to share an approach that will give you the right words to deeply connect with your partner during even the worst argument.

Nancy is a psychotherapist and couples therapist with over twenty-five years of experience, and is the author of Talk to Me Like I’m Someone You Love, a unique book and relationship tool that can help partners in an argument express their feelings and needs in a productive way. You can find her online at NancyDreyfus.com, and can purchase her book from Amazon.

Does it seem like the most serious arguments you and your partner have are always rooted in the same few things? Are you at your wit’s end from having the same arguments over and over?

Dr. Tina Tessina returns to the show to talk about her book Money, Sex, and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage. She explains how some of those constant stresses in life can turn into big stresses on your marriage, and what you can do about it.

Tina is a licensed psychotherapist in California with over thirty years of counseling experience. She’s written over a dozen books, and hosts a radio show and a relationship blog. You can find her only at TinaTessina.com, and her book Money, Sex, and Kids can be purchased from Amazon.

Do either you or your partner have anxieties about your relationship?  Are you uncomfortable getting too close?  The way you each feel and behave in your relationship may actually be linked to your individual attachment styles.

Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Amir Levine joins us to talk about the the theory behind Attached, a new book about adult attachment theory that he co-authored with Rachel S. F. Heller.  Amir is a graduate of Columbia University with his own practice in Manhattan, and is presently working at Columbia as a Principal Investigator on a research project sponsored by the National Institute of Health.

Attached can be purchased online from Amazon or from any major bookseller.  You can find out more about the book and about Amir by visiting AttachedTheBook.com.

Does it feel like your relationship is good enough, but not all that it could be?  Is “good enough” just not good enough anymore?  Dr. Terri Orbuch joins us on the show to talk about her book – 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great.

Terri is the project director of the NIH-funded Early Years of Marriage Project, the longest-running study of married couples ever conducted, which has been ongoing since 1986.  A practicing marriage and relationship therapist for more than 20 years, she is also a popular love advisor on radio, TV, and peoplemedia.com.  She’s a research professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, and a professor at Oakland University.

5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great is published by Random House, and is available on Amazon.com and at all the major booksellers. You can also find her online at DrTerriTheLoveDoctor.com.

Is the difference in age between you and your partner causing tension in your marriage?  Is it getting difficult to deal with others’ perceptions and opinions of your relationship?  Colette Segalla joins us to talk about both the challenges and benefits of relationships between partners of significantly different ages, and to tell us how you can get the most out of your marriage.

Colette is a therapist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC. She’s had extensive training and experience working with people of all ages, and has also had specific training in the field of adult relationships, using an integrated approach to help couples overcome both their individual and relational problems to improve their relationships. You can find her online at  LepageAssociates.com or call the office at 919-572-0000 to schedule an appointment.

Is your marriage no longer magical, but just plain miserable?  Does it feel like you’re trapped with no way of fixing things, to the point where you’re fantasizing about divorce, or worse?  Alisa Bowman returns to the show to discuss her upcoming book, Project: Happily Ever After – Saving Your Marriage When the Fairytale Falters, a personal account of her marriage at its worst and how she and her husband managed to put the pieces back together.

Alisa keeps up a blog at ProjectHappilyEverAfter.com, and has been featured on news shows and in publications across the country.  Her book, which comes out December 28, can be preordered from Amazon.com, and will be available after its release at all major booksellers.

Are you dreading that trip over the river and through the woods to your in-laws’ house this season?  Does it feel like going to visit the family brings more stress than joy to your holidays?  Dealing with in-laws can be complicated any time of the year, and feeling trapped under their roof during the already high-tension holidays can take things to a whole new level.

Thankfully, Dr. Susan Orenstein is here to share things you can do both for yourself and for your family to keep tensions down and help everyone have a peaceful, joyful holiday together.  Susan is a licensed psychologist with advanced training in cognitive behavioral therapy and couples counseling.  She has her own practice, Orenstein Solutions, with offices in both Cary and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and also holds regular couples workshops.

You can find her online at OrensteinSolutions.com, or call her office at (919) 428-2766 to find out more or set up an appointment.

Does 10 years of marriage seem like a piece of cake, or have you made it through the first ten years and wonder if you’ll make it for another 10?

Dr. Tina Lepage returns to the show to let us behind the curtain of what a marriage counselor’s relationship is like and shares what she has done to keep her marriage strong for a decade.

Tina is the founder of Lepage Associates, where she focuses on personal and professional relationship issues, as well as children and family therapy, and personal growth. You can find out more about Tina and her staff by visiting her website at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling her office at 919.572.0000

No matter how many “Happy Holidays” wishes you receive, the season can be just as stressful as it is enjoyable, and that stress can be even greater if you’re part of a blended family. Does shuffling the kids from one home to another feel too disruptive? Does it seem impossible to meet everyone’s vision of that perfect Christmas morning?

Barbara Keyworth returns to the show to talk about the issues stepfamilies face when it comes to the holidays, and to share tips on relieving some of that stress and making the season a happy one for all. Barbara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a practice in Raleigh and 23 years of experience. Her website is BKeyworth.com, where you can find out more about her counseling services and qualifications, and you can call her office at 919.783.8004 for an appointment.

Do you think you’re letting too much pass you by when you leave things to chance? Do you want to make the most of what you have with the ones you love? Dennis Yanke returns to the show to talk about what it means to “love on purpose” and how it can improve your relationships.

Dennis is a veteran financial planner with three decades of experience who has figured out how to apply his personal-values approach to relationships as well. You can find out more about Dennis and his book — as well as ask him your own questions — at LoveYourWifeGetBetterSex.com.

Do you sometimes feel like you and your partner aren’t working toward the same goals in your relationship? Does it seem like you’re just not on the same page with each other?

Dr. Carol Ummel Lindquist, a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Laguna Beach, California, joins us to discuss how creating a “Couple Vision Statement” can help you and your partner understand what you both want and bring you closer together.  Carol has been practicing for thirty years and recently retired as Professor Emerita from California State Fullerton.

You can find out more about her and her guidebook, The Happy Couple Handbook, at DoctorCarol.com.

Do you and your partner follow different religions? Are you unsure of how to respect and appreciate your partner’s beliefs without compromising your own? Are you worried about how your children will identify, and what your families will think?

Reverend Laurie Sue Brockway, an ordained nondenominational minister, joins us today to discuss what interfaith couples face both before and after the wedding, and what they can do to achieve harmony despite the differences. Her new book is Your Interfaith Wedding: A Guide to Blending Faiths, Cultures and Personal Values into One Beautiful Wedding Ceremony, and her writing can also be found at Wedlok.com.

Do you sometimes feel like you’ve lost yourself in your marriage? Has putting the focus on the two of you as a pair started to make you feel insecure with yourself? Andrea Gross joins us on the show to discuss how a healthy marriage starts with you as an individual, and has everything to do with your perception of yourself.

Andrea is a certified lifestyle coach who knows what it’s like to deal with all the complications of life, relationships and family today. You can find out more about her and her coaching services by visiting her website, AndreaGrossOnline.com.

Are money issues making you feel like your marriage is bankrupt? Money issues pop up in every marriage at some point and when the economy is in a recession, these problems are intensified.

Many people expect their spouses to have exactly the same view of spending and finances and have difficulty accepting the differences in their spouse’s approach to the bank account. Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio joins us to discuss what factors cause issues with most couples and why they create problems regardless of how comfortable a family is financially.

Dr. Imbraguglio practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and helps both adults and children with a wide range of emotional issues. She has provided counseling for individuals, groups, couples, and families. You can learn more about Nicole at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling 919.572.0000

Do you or your spouse have to do a lot of traveling for work? Does it feel like rather than bringing you closer together – making the heart grow fonder – your time apart is just creating tension?

Archana Aragon joins us to talk about how time away from your partner can affect your relationship, and offers ideas on ways to stay connected when you’re far apart.

Archana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Durham and Chapel Hill with fifteen years of experience. To learn more or set up an appointment with her, you can reach her by phone at (919) 608-4821.

Are the expectations we put on our spouse to blame for the disintegration of intimacy and connectedness? Do you consider yourself a victim of your spouse’s unreasonable behavior, or are you simply bored of your spouse?

Dr. Judith Sherven and Dr. Jim Sniechowski join us to talk about why many people are so quick to abandon a relationship, what factors contribute to that behavior, and what you can change in your marriage to turn around your relationship, as well as the obvious aphrodisiac that most couples overlook.

Drs. Judith and Jim have been married for 22 years and are the authors of 5 bestselling books on marriage and relationships. Be sure to visit their website, JudithandJim.com for more relationship advice and information about their books.

If you’re a part of a blended family, you know how complicated things can be, especially when you’re starting out. Are you having trouble relating to your new stepchildren? Do you just not feel as much like a family as you expected? Barbara Keyworth joins us to discuss the things that can cause tension in a newly blended family, and shares tips for making the transition a smooth one.

Barbara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a practice in Raleigh and 23 years of experience. Her website is BKeyworth.com, where you can find out more about her counseling services and qualifications, and you can call her office at 919.783.8004 for an appointment.

Do you feel like the ways you and your partner think just don’t match up? Does it feel like it might be impossible to really understand each other? Susie Leonard Weller, author of Why Don’t You Understand?: Improve Family Communication with the 4 Thinking Styles joins us to explain how we can improve our communication through understanding these different thinking styles.

Susie is a certified Thinking Styles Consultant and a life and spiritual coach who also teaches parenting and family management at the Community Colleges of Spokane. Her website is SusieWeller.com, and her book can be purchased there or from Parenting Press or Amazon. If you order it from her website, as a special offer, she’ll send you an autographed copy and pay for shipping expenses herself.

Additionally, Susie would like to offer a free resource with 30 tips on stress management. You can contact her by email at sweller@att.net or by phone at  (509) 255-6676 and she’ll send you a copy.

Is your new spouse’s ex more of a presence in your life than you expected? Are you finding it hard to deal with? Dr. Molly Parks joins us to discuss the critical issues you need to address when dealing with your partner’s ex so you can keep the harmony in your new family.

Molly has over a decade of experience helping both adults and children deal with emotionally challenging issues ranging from social isolation and relationship issues to PTSD and trauma victims. She practices with Lepage Associates in Durham. You can schedule an appointment by calling 919.572.0000, or by visiting LepageAssociates.com.

Does it seem like no matter how hard you try to communicate and express your love to your partner, your message just isn’t getting through? Sarah DeNome joins us to discuss the different ways people express and comprehend love, and to tell us how we can better communicate those feelings to our partners in ways they understand.

Sarah is a licensed clinical social worker with her own practice, DeNome Alliances Counseling Center, which has locations both in Raleigh and Holly Springs, NC. You can contact her and find out more by visiting her website, Denome-Alliances.com.

There are a lot of stereotypes about men and what they want, and nearly everyone has heard them. But believing that men are as simple as the stereotypes say can make you miss out on more meaningful ways to make him happy and strengthen your relationship together. Do you think you know what men really want out of their relationships?

Dr. Kristen Wynns returns to the show to discuss what men are really looking for. Kristen has a private practice in Cary, NC and specializes in therapy for children, adolescents, and families. You can find out more about her practice and services at her website, WynnsFamilyPsychology.com, or by calling her office at 919.805.0182. She also has a blog called Marriage and Parenting 101 with great advice for couples and families.

We’re bombarded with advice on how to fix our relationships from almost every angle — from family, friends, and media. But how much of that advice is really good advice? Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones returns to the show to share some pieces of marriage advice she’s heard that can do a lot more harm than good.

Katrina holds a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and has been practicing for over 10 years. Katrina practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and can be reached at 919.572.0000, or by visiting LepageAssociates.com.

Has your sex life with your spouse cooled down since you got married?  Are you not getting the same satisfaction that you used to, and do you feel like there’s nothing you can do about it?

Dr. Trina Read joins us to talk about her book, Till Sex Do Us Part: Making Your Married Sex Irresistible, which focuses on the transition couples go through from single sex to married sex, and tells you what you can do to keep things satisfying after you’ve tied the knot.

Trina is a sexologist with a successful coaching practice who’s written for a variety of publications in addition to writing her own books.  She’s given interviews and lectures both in North America and overseas. You can go to her website, TrinaRead.com, to learn more and to find plenty of resources, and to TillSexDoUsPart.com to order her book for yourself.

It’s easy to get caught up in the negative things in our lives, but are you letting the same happen in your relationship? Are you no longer able to see the good things in your marriage?

Drs. Charley and Liz Schmitz join us to discuss how to break out of the cycle of negativity and put the positivity back in your marriage, beginning with five simple things you should say to your spouse every day.

Charley and Liz are marriage experts with three decades of research and a 43-year marriage of their own. You can purchase their latest book, Building a Love That Lasts, through Amazon.com, and you can visit their website at SimpleThingsMatter.com, where you can find their blog along with a variety of relationship resources.

Do you feel like you can’t live up to what your spouse expects from you in the bedroom? Or do you feel you’re not getting everything you think you should get from your spouse?

Dr. Sara Rosenquist joins us to discuss how our culture’s emphasis on sex can give us unrealistic expectations and put a strain on relationships, and gives advice on how couples can find satisfaction with each other – even if they aren’t in a hyper-sexual Hollywood romance.

Sara is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Chapel Hill and Cary, NC, where she focuses on reproductive issues and sex therapy. You can find out more by visiting her website, DrSara.com, where she has some great articles and free resources available.

Is your marriage not all you expected it to be? Are you not sure if there’s something wrong, or if this is just the natural progression of a relationship?

Harry Harrison, author of 1001 Things Happy Couples Know About Marriage, joins us to share some of the lessons he’s compiled from talking to successful long-term couples, covering everything from money to intimacy to forgiveness.

Harry is the bestselling author of the Raising Parents book series, ten books on parenting and family life. You can order a copy of 1001 Things… at Amazon.com and be sure to check out his books on his website, RaisingParents.com.

Has your sex life become so dissatisfying that you feel restless with your marriage, or even resentful of your spouse?

Marnia Robinson joins us to take a look at the science behind why steamy romance is destined to fade, what that means for the future of marriage, as well as to share some of her 31 tips for reengaging sexually with your spouse and using your biological instincts to rekindle passion.

Marnia is the author of Cupid’s Poisoned Arrow: From Habit to Harmony in Sexual Realationships, in which she challenges conventional approaches toward intimacy in relationships and examines the biological and neurological forces that shape our sexual desires. You can order the book from Amazon.com here, and find out more about Marnia and her research at her website, Reuniting.info

A child who’s having difficulties in school can create a lot of unexpected stress in a relationship. Do you and your spouse have different ideas of what’s best when it comes to your child’s education? How can you communicate with each other and with your child to understand what’s happening at school, and what you can do?

Dr. Jaclyn Starritt joins us to talk about how important it is to advocate for your child and how parents can effectively deal with their child’s problems in school through cooperation.

Jaclyn earned her PhD. in the field of School Psychology, and is married with three children of her own. She’s now putting her experience to work as a new member of Wynns Family Psychology in Cary, NC. You can find out more about her services by visiting KristenWynns.com or calling her office at (919) 805-0182 to set up an appointment.

When kids start acting out, the strain on the marriage is immediate. Are the different approaches that you and your spouse take toward discipline and the examples you set making the problem worse?

Tina Lepage joins us  to discuss the three reasons why almost all children act out, as well as common mistakes couples make and what steps you can take today to better communicate with your kids and each other in order to raise better behaved children in a loving environment.

Tina is the founder of Lepage Associates, where she focuses on personal and professional relationship issues, as well as children and family therapy, and personal growth. You can find out more about Tina and her staff by visiting her website at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling her office at 919.572.0000.

When things get difficult, It’s easy to start questioning whether It’s really worth it to stay in your marriage.  Does it seem like you aren’t communicating anymore? How can you resolve your conflicts when it feels like nothing is working?

John Wilder joins us to take a look at what you can do when you’re considering giving up on your marriage, and shows us how we may able to repair our conflict solving skills.

John is a marriage coach in New Castle, Indiana, with over thirty years of counseling experience. You can get in touch with John and learn more about his coaching services by emailing him at marriagecoach1@yahoo.com.

Have you considered traditional marriage counseling, but found yourself curious about other possible options? Marriage workshops are a growing alternative to traditional counseling with a more classroom-like approach, and have been increasing in popularity both with married couples and with engaged couples who want to plan for the future.

Natasha Crawford, founder of a new marriage workshop of her own called the Marriage Academy, joins us today to tell us more about this growing trend and what to expect from it to help you decide if a workshop might be the right choice for you.

Natasha is a licensed North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and certified Prepare-Enrich premarital counselor with a private practice in Raleigh. You can find out more about Natasha at her website, NatashaCrawford.com, by following her on Twitter @NatashaCrawford, by calling her office at 919.807.1156, or by visiting her blog at NatashaCrawford.blogspot.com

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we’re all reminded just how important it is to show appreciation for the mothers in our lives. But sometimes we can forget that It’s just as important to show appreciation and support for your wife’s role as a mother throughout the rest of the year. What are some of the issues mothers deal with on a daily basis that sometimes go unnoticed, and what can husbands do to show their appreciation?

Dr. Kristen Wynns returns to discuss common complaints from mothers who feel unappreciated and what you can do to support your wife and show her how much you value what she does for your family.

Dr. Wynns has a private practice in Cary, NC and specializes in therapy for children, adolescents, and families. You can find out more about Dr. Wynns practice and services at her website, WynnsFamilyPsychology.com, or by calling her office at 919.805.0182. Kristen also has a blog called Marriage and Parenting 101 with great advice for parents.

Having a great marriage is tough work. In second marriages, factors like ex-spouses, step children, and fears and insecurities from the last marriage make things even more difficult. Are you afraid your current marriage will end up like your last one?

Tim Lewis joins us to discuss the unique pitfalls of remarriages and what steps you can take today to make sure that this marriage makes it, whether It’s your first or fifth.

Tim is a Marriage Coach and a certified Prepare-Enrich Seminar Director & Counselor with a private practice in Huntersville, NC. Tim and his wife Christina operate The Redesign Company, which combines marriage coaching and home design. You can find out more about Tim and The Redesign Company on their website, LoveComingHome.com, by visiting their Facebook page, or by calling 704.604.2687.

It’s no secret that for most problems, men like clear-cut instructions – and relationships are no different. Dennis Yanke joins us to discuss his book, Love Your Wife… Get Better Sex, and talk about his manual for not just improving your sex life, but deepening the intimacy and emotional connection as well.

Dennis is a veteran financial planner with three decades of experiences helping couples manage their finances. You can find out more about Dennis and the  book at LoveYourWifeGetBetterSex.com, where you can read an entire chapter of the book for free, as well as ask Dennis questions that he answers on the site.

We’re excited to be giving away two copies of Love Your Wife… Get Better Sex. Listen to the show, leave us a comment at StayHappilyMarried.com, and on Friday (4/30/10), we’ll pick two commenters to receive copies of the book!

Adultery leaves many spouses thinking that there will never be any trust in the relationship and that divorce is the inevitable conclusion. How likely is it that your marriage will survive infidelity, and is it possible to rebuild trust and respect?

Mary Jo Rapini joins us to explore the different reasons men and women cheat, the likelihood that a marriage will survive cheating, and a checklist that you can put into place today to repair your marriage if infidelity has damaged the relationship.

Mary Jo is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice in Houston, TX. She also writes a syndicated newspaper column, hosts a television show in Houston, and has appeared on CNN, Headline News, and TLC. You can find out more about Mary Jo at her website, MaryJoRapini.com, where you can get information on her services, books, and videos, as well as read her blog for couples.

Are you dreading the day when your kids start dating? Different parenting styles, youthful defiance, and parental concern may seem like recipe for disaster. It’s no wonder that parents of teens often have some of the lowest marital satisfaction.

Annie Fox joins us to discuss what to expect when your kids reach dating age, how to deal with your concerns in a way that doesn’t alienate your children, and how to keep some sanity in your marriage during the process.

Annie has been writing books for teens and educators for almost 40 years. Her book The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and Relating is available for free on her website, AnnieFox.com. While you’re there, be sure to check out her other books, including the Middleschool Confidential series, her blog for parents and educators, and her podcast.

With today’s shaky economic climate, spending a few extra hours at work every week is necessary just to get by. But where is the line between doing what it takes to provide for the family, and avoiding the family altogether? Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio returns to the show to examine how dedicating too much time to work, hobbies, or social activities can both cause problems in your relationship, and be indicators that there are other problems as well.

Dr. Imbraguglio practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and helps both adults and children with a wide range of emotional issues. She has provided counseling for individuals, groups, couples, and families. You can learn more about Nicole at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling 919.572.0000

The biggest hurdle to fixing a relationship plagued by conflict is acknowledging the problem, but how do you resolve the underlying disputes without falling into old habits and fighting even more? Will strategies designed for both spouses be effective when only one spouse is willing to work toward solving the problem?

Paul Shaffer returns to the show to share five tools you can start using today to disarm hostile and repetitive conflicts.

Paul has been a professional counselor for almost 25 years and currently owns his own practice, Right Choices Counseling, in Huntersville, NC. You can find out more about Paul and his practice at RightChoicescounseling.com, or by calling 704.578.2725. You can also purchase Paul’s books, Conflict Resolution for Couples, and Conflict Resolution for Christian Couples from Amazon.com, or by visiting the publisher directly, at AuthorHouse.com

Has communicating with your spouse become a lost cause? Does he or she seem not to have any understanding of where you’re coming from, or just flat out refuse to engage – leading to fighting and resentment?

Paul Shaffer joins us to discuss the top 5 factors that create communication stalemates in marriages and other ideas he explores in his book, Conflict Resolution for Couples.

Paul has been a professional counselor for almost 25 years and currently owns his own practice, Right Choices Counseling, in Huntersville, NC. You can find out more about Paul and his practice at RightChoicescounseling.com, or by calling 704.578.2725. You can also purchase Paul’s books, Conflict Resolution for Couples, and Conflict Resolution for Christian Couples from Amazon.com

Have late nights and early mornings at the office become the norm? Has your marriage lost It’s spark because your spouse seems to care more about work than the relationship?

Natasha Crawford joins us to explore the difference between hard work and neglecting your marriage, as well as examining the factors that make spouses likely to become “workaholics”, how to prevent it from happening, and what to do if you or your partner is already there.

Natasha is a licensed North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and certified Prepare-Enrich premarital counselor with a private practice in Raleigh. You can find out more about Natasha at her website, NatashaCrawford.com, by following her on Twitter @NatashaCrawford, by calling her office at 919.807.1156, or by visiting her blog at NatashaCrawford.blogspot.com

Are you tired of the dirty clothes never making their way to the washer? The nagging? Being embarrassed in public? Or just plain old nose picking? Is there a way to get your spouse to drop the bad habits without reading the riot act? Jennifer Coleman returns to the show do discuss why It’s sometimes more difficult to bring up problems to a spouse than a friend, and how you can approach your partner about his or her annoying habits in a way that doesn’t put anyone on the offensive, and will make headway in fixing the problem.

Jennifer is a licensed professional counselor and is a nationally certified counselor who practices with Eastover Psychological and Psychiatric Group in Cornelius, NC, where she works with couples, families and  individuals from young children to adults on issues ranging from depression, anxiety, relationship issues and life transitions. Jennifer is also a Life Transitions Coach with Rosen Law Firm, where she helps clients set goals and priorities to help manage their lives. You can find out more about Jennifer and her practice at EPPG.org

Have your expectations of what a “perfect” marriage should be left you to wonder whether the problems in your relationship will keep you from living “happily ever after” with your spouse? Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones returns to the show to examine what makes successful marriages last and what couples who have been married for two months or two decades can do to put their relationships on the right track.

Katrina holds a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and has been practicing for over 10 years. Katrina practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and can be reached at 919.572.0000, or by visiting LepageAssociates.com

Are you in a last-minute panic about which flowers to buy, where to make dinner reservations, and whether or not you bought this same card for your wife last year? Are you trying to figure out how to top the Valentine’s Day gift you bought last February? Dr. Michael Hall returns to the show to share four sure-fire steps for husbands trying to make a good impression as well as discussing how to move away from focusing on the ever bigger box of candy or flower arrangement and instead paying attention to the individual needs and emotions of your wife.

Michael owns a private practice with his wife Barbara in Charlotte, NC where he not only works with individuals and couples for relationship and marriage counseling, he is a well known figure in the corporate and career counseling world as well. You can give Michael a call at 704.858.2984 to find out more.

Has the inability to conceive created problems for your personal health, relationship with your spouse, or the priorities in your marriage? Harboring guilt or resentment quickly leads to a breakdown in communication that puts your marriage in serious jeopardy. Dr. Christina Rush joins us to discuss the emotional and psychological impact of infertility on both the spouses individually and the couple as a whole, and how to approach the goal of having children and the treatments that go along with them in a way that doesn’t overshadow the needs of the marriage.

Christina is in private practice with Wynns Family Psychology in Cary, NC, where she helps get couples get through some marriage’s toughest issues, from sexual trauma to eating disorders and depression. In addition to having clinical experience helping other couples with infertility issues, she has first-hand experience dealing with them in her own life. You can find out more about Dr. Rush by visiting the Wynns Family Psychology website, or by calling her office at 919.805.0182

Have you found yourself wondering whether It’s better to stay in a troubled marriage than separate from your spouse for the sake of your children?  Is staying together when there are problems in the marriage really better than splitting? How perceptive are children about the happiness of their parents and if you do decided to stick it out, is there room for actually fixing the marriage and not just putting up with your spouse until the kids are gone?

Tina is the founder of Lepage Associates, where she focuses on personal and professional relationship issues, as well as children and family therapy, and personal growth. You can find out more about Tina and her staff by visiting her website at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling her office at 919.572.0000

Do seemingly insignificant problems cause outbursts from you or your spouse? Are even the simplest problems impossible to resolve because of flaring tempers? Dr. Julia Messer joins us to discuss what differentiates normal, healthy anger from a chronic problem that impacts not just your marriage, but all your relationships, as well as some of the common root causes for anger issues and how to begin repairing a relationship at risk from unhealthy anger.

Dr. Messer is a licensed psychologist practicing with Orenstein Solutions in Cary, NC, where she specializes in anger management, depression, and family issues. You can find out more about Dr. Messer at OrensteinSolutions.com, or by calling her office at 919.428.2766.

After the excitement of the birth has worn off, infants can place a lot of strain on a relationship. Do you find it hard to devote the time to your spouse and marriage that you used to? Are your children toddlers and now that you have a little more time, you feel like you hardly know your spouse? Dr. Kristen Wynns returns to the show to discuss how you can stay focused on your marriage without neglecting your responsibilities as a new parent.

Dr. Wynns has a private practice in Cary, NC and specializes in therapy for children, adolescents, and families. You can find out more about Dr. Wynns practice and services at her website, WynnsFamilyPsychology.com, or by calling her office at 919.805.0182. Kristen also has a brand new blog called Marriage and Parenting 101 with great advice for parents.

Kristen also suggests the book Babyproofing Your Marriage, as well as John Gottman’s book And Baby Makes Three, and his website, Gottman.com, for more information.

Is it possible that the one hour a week approach to marriage counseling could be doing more harm than good to your relationship? Is the marriage counseling model driven more by the counselors, or by what your insurance will cover?

John Wilder joins us to discuss the difference between the counseling and coaching models of marriage therapy and why the manner in which insurance companies reimburse clients for marriage counseling has created a system that puts your relationship in jeopardy. John is in private practice in New Castle Indiana and has just finished his upcoming book, You Can Achieve Happily Ever After and Improve Your Love Life Too.

Married life can be hectic – are you taking time to cover the nuts and bolts of your relationship on a regular basis? Cory Huff from AGoodHusband.net and HusbandsAndDads.com joins us to talk about a weekly 4 Step Relationship Review that he has implemented in his marriage and the impact it has had on his relationship.

Cory discusses how he came up with the review, how to deal with a spouse who may be hesitant to participate, and important topics to cover, including finances, priorities, and obligations. You can read Cory’s article on the review here, and read his other articles at both AGoodHusband.net and HusbandsAndDads.com

Have you yourself constantly keeping score of the things your spouse has done that upset you? Does it feel like your spouse should know when you feel that something is unfair if he or she really loves you?  Dr. B. Janet Hibbs joins us to discuss why our ideas about fairness often differ from those of our spouse and what steps you can take today to fix issues of fairness and equality in your marriage, as well as sharing advice from her book, Try To See It My Way: Being Fair In Love And Marriage.

Dr. Hibbs has 15 years of graduate teaching and has been in private practice for 25 years. For more information on Dr. Hibbs’ background and practice, visit DrBHibbs.com. You can find out more about Try To See It My Way: Being Fair In Love And Marriage at TryToSeeItMyWay.com, which offers helpful fairness tips and an online fairness quiz, or order a copy at Amazon.com

Is a separation looming on the horizon of your relationship? Ideally, a couple can recognize their problems and get help before divorce is considered an option, but all too often, couples will allow conflict and communication issues to fester until marriage counseling is seen as a last ditch effort on the way to divorce court. Liza Shaw returns to the show to take a look at what puts a couple so close to the edge and what can be done to put the marriage back on the right track.

Liza recommends using resources like MarriageFriendlyTherapists.com and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy to find a qualified professional to help you and your spouse.

Liza is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist with a private practice in Hickory, NC, where she specializes in couples counseling, family counseling, and grief therapy. You can find out more about Liza and her practice at PowerToThrive.com – or visit PowerToThriveRadio.com for interviews and podcasts. You can also call her office at 828.328.4673

A great marriage can seem like a bit of a mystery when conflict and communication issues are part of your daily routine. What are the secrets that couples with great marriages who know how to weather both the good and bat times are using in their relationships?

Linda and Charlie Bloom join us to discuss what they learned by interviewing couples who have made their marriages work despite difficult challenges, as well as what they’ve discovered in their marriage and counseling practice.

You can purchase a copy of the Blooms first book, 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married, and their upcoming book, Secrets of Great Marriages from Amazon.com, or by visiting their website, BloomWork.com, where you can find out more about their upcoming workshops and counseling services.

Sometimes, a lack of sex can be due to unresolved issues in the marriage, but often, It’s simply that we’ve become too caught up with daily life to change the status quo. Grab a pen, because Dr. Tina Lepage joins us to share seven (actually eight!) tips you can put to work right now to start having better sex more frequently with your spouse.

Tina is the founder of Lepage Associates, where she focuses on personal and professional relationship issues, as well as children and family therapy, and personal growth. You can find out more about Tina and her staff by visiting her website at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling her office at 919.572.0000

When first dealing with infidelity, the pain and shame can make recovery seem unlikely. Too many people see an affair as a death-sentence for a marriage, but Gary and Mona Shriver are proof that recovery and forgiveness are possible and worth the effort and have created a ministry dedicated to couples whose marriages have been shaken by infidelity.

You can find out a lot more about Gary and Mona Shriver and “Unfaithful, Hope & Healing after Infidelity”, along with information about Hope and Healing ministries at HopeAndHealing.us, which features a wealth of free audio and video resources for couples dealing with infidelity. You can also order a copy of Unfaithful: Hope and Healing After Infidelity at Amazon.com

You may have heard of PAIRS workshops for improving the intimacy in your marriage, but what issues can it address in your marriage, and is it the right environment for you and your spouse? Dr. Susan Orenstein joins us to talk about the PAIRS workshops that have become increasingly popular for both happily and unhappily married couples, and explore what makes PAIRS different from traditional therapy, and why it is such a great option for individuals and couples who are uncomfortable with marriage counseling.

Dr. Orenstein is a licensed Psychologist with a private practice in Cary, NC and a newly opened location in Chapel Hill, NC.  She also conducts the Stay Happily Married seminar series in Raleigh.  You can find out more about Dr. Orenstein at OrensteinSolutions.com, or by calling her office at 919.428.2766. You can find out more about PAIRS at PAIRS.com

Why is it so much more tempting to get rid of your spouse rather than to work on the issues causing problems in your marriage? Sally Watkins joins us to discuss her new book, Change Your Mindset, Not Your Man, and explore how men and women are socialized to have certain expectations of how a marriage will work and why those lead many of us running for the hills at the first sign of conflict, as well as the pitfalls in marriage therapy that can actually make the problems worse.

Sally is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Folsom California and has been helping couples resolve their issues for more than twenty years. You can find out more about Sally and her practice at her website, HealingWords.net and you can find out more about Change Your Mindset, Not Your Man, including the complete first chapter, at SallyWatkins.net

Whether It’s full-time, or during the evenings, a spouse in school can create a lot of tension in a marriage. It’s not just a couple’s schedules that are impacted, but everything from household chores and time with the kids to intimacy with your spouse. Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio joins us to look at what aspects of the relationship are most likely to suffer when one spouse returns to school and what steps that each partner can take to ensure that the needs of both the couple and the family are met during the process.

Dr. Imbraguglio practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and helps both adults and children with a wide range of emotional issues. She has provided counseling for individuals, groups, couples, and families. You can learn more about Nicole at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling 919.572.0000

Are the unresolved conflicts in your marriage less about an unwillingness to compromise and more about the differences in your families of origin and how you were raised? Is the all too common reaction of assuming that our own approach is right, so our spouse must be wrong making the rift bigger? Marilyn Harding joins us to take a look at what kinds of common arguments are likely caused simply by differences in expectations of how the family should operate and how to manage these differences constructively.

Marilyn Harding has been providing counseling services to the triangle for 20 years and holds specialized training in sex therapy and crisis and trauma therapy, as well as serving on the National Response Team for the American Association of Christian Counselors. You can find out more about Marilyn on the Life Care Counseling and Coaching website at LifeCareCC.com, or by calling 919.851.1527

The demands of a high-level executive or political job can often overrun a marriage, and leave the other spouse with the option of trying to pursue a career of his or her own and risk dividing the marriage, or solely being the stay-at-home parent and feeling unfulfilled, unappreciated, and trapped. Is there any way to avoid these pitfalls and bring both spouses together and stay engaged in a common goal?

Kathi Browne joins us to discuss the concept of being a “wingspouse” and making the career and marriage one of mutual involvement for both spouses. Kathi blogs about successfully investing in your spouse’s career on her blog at Wingspouse.com and also offers seminars that examine the best practices of being a wingspouse.

Social networks like Facebook and MySpace can be a great way to get in touch with friends and classmates from your past, but also make emotional and sometimes physical relationships that harm your marriage as easy as clicking and typing. Sage Navarra joins us to explore what makes these online relationships so appealing, what causes the emotional affairs to ensue, and steps you can take in your marriage to remove the temptation without forsaking your favorite online hang-out.

Sage is a Licensed Psychotherapist with a private practice in Chapel Hill, NC, where she provides psychotherapy for both individuals and couples on issues ranging from trauma and anxiety, to body image and intimacy. You can find out more about Sage and her practice on her website, at SageNavarra.com, or by calling her office at 919.929.3717

Changing jobs, or even careers has become a common occurrence in today’s economic climate and can be one of the most disruptive events in a couple’s relationship. Dr. Tina Lepage returns to the show to take a look at what makes these transitions so stressful to a marriage and shares tips on how to keep anxiety about schedules and income from creating tension and distance between you and your spouse.

Tina is the founder of Lepage Associates, where she focuses on personal and professional relationship issues, as well as children and family therapy, and personal growth. You can find out more about Tina and her staff by visiting her website at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling her office at 919.572.0000