Stay Happily Married

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.