Stay Happily Married

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.

Sometimes It can seem like instead of you and your partner running the house, the kids are the ones calling the shots. Are you giving in too often and too easily? Dr. Kristin Wynns joins us on the show today to discuss the importance of holding on to parental control and how websites like No Wimpy Parenting can help families. Dr. Wynns has a private practice in Cary, NC and specializes in therapy for children, adolescents, and families. Dr. Wynns' practice is the catalyst behind the No Wimpy Parenting website. 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.

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.