Stay Happily Married

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