Oftentimes sex gets confused with intimacy. Confusion is evident when words like, "We were intimate," "We made love," are used to describe what was actually a sexual encounter. A common misconception is that emotional intimacy naturally accompanies or will follow sex. Even great sex in no way guara....
Separation is often considered to be a last resort, meaning the relationship is over. The problem is believing that what is supposed to happen in a relationship is “to be together all of the time.” There is no way to integrate or make sense of what is happening when they are at odds, conflicted, ....
The best investment a young couple can make is in their relationship. Premarital counseling goes beyond prevention by preparing a couple for the rigors of a relationship and shaping its future and quality. It is intervention at the absolutely best time, when two people have just made a commitment ....
There may not be a more mystifying phenomenon than sexual attraction. When we are attracted to someone, our perceptions, motivation, thoughts, feelings and behavior are profoundly affected. Few things are more tantalizing than mutual sexual attraction. There are three basic components of sexual attraction: what ....
Flirtation is another area where many people have difficulties. The problem isn’t flirtation itself. Just as we have seen to be true with sex, flirting can be stimulating and feel good. It’s a way to express interest and pique the other’s interest by sexualizing the communication. ....
Few things are more tantalizing than mutual sexual attraction. When we are sexually attracted to someone, there is a synergistic interplay between our bodies, our emotions and our imaginations. The physical aspect (bodily arousal, sexual desire) is conscious and real, compelling enough by itself; unconscious and unmet ....
Many people wonder whether there is something inherently wrong or ominous if they do not feel “in love.” Being in love should not be a prerequisite in deciding whether or not to pursue a relationship, nor in assessing the long-term prognosis for, or quality of, any relationship. A common pitfall is to conf....
A "clean slate" is a precursor to building rapport. It means entering into an encounter in the spirit of discovery, in a state of mind characterized by openness and spontaneity. It also means being in the moment. The first time two people are together, we can say in effect that a new play is about to open. The dialogu....
Relationships. I was born with a keen sense about relationships, was always assessing how close and intimate people are with each other. I had a knack for relationships. The importance of relationships cuts to the core of who I am. The combination of clinical training, 25 years of professional experience treating dysfunctional, non-intimate couples and families, as well as rigorous self analysis has given me a lot to work with. I put what seemed to come naturally to me under a microscope in an effort to break the process of building healthy relationships down to concrete essentials: Understanding of Basic Principles, Communication Skills, Self-realization and Intimacy.