The Basics: This chapter is a bit longer than the last, weighing in at 24 pages. Despite the added length, I found this chapter to be a very quick read, and most couples should be able to work through it very easily in a week when sharing a single copy of the book. The date recommendations included in this chapter might require an extra step or two of planning together, so if you are planning on a Friday night date,…
Eight Dates Challenge – Week 5 – Room to Grow – Family
- September 5, 2019
- Uncategorized
The Basics This chapter delves into a crucial topic on how to communicate about your idea of what type of family that you want to build as a couple. It is a very quick read for such a deep topic, at 13-14 pages. This one is very easy to read through and hand off to your partner. So, if you get to your planned date and you haven’t read the chapter yet, it would be pretty easy to get caught…
Eight Dates Challenge – Week Three – Sex and Intimacy
- April 25, 2019
- Couples Therapy, Life Change, Relationships, Sex and Intimacy, Uncategorized
Joella and I have decided to read and participate in the activities featured in the Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John Gottman, Julie Gottman, Doug Abrams, and Rachel Carlton Abrams and then share some of our reflections on the experience.
Eight Dates Challenge – Week Two – Addressing Conflict
- April 16, 2019
- Uncategorized
Welcome to the second week of our progress in the Gottman 8 week couples challenge! Quick recap: Joella and I have decided to read and participate in the activities featured in the Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John Gottman, Julie Gottman, Doug Abrams, and Rachel Carlton Abrams and then share some of our reflections on the experience. Last week, we addressed trust and commitment. This week, the topic moves on to addressing conflict in our…
Eight Dates Challenge – Week One – Trust and Commitment
- April 8, 2019
- Communication, Couples Therapy, Psychotherapy, Relationships, Uncategorized
It almost never fails that when Joella and I are introduced to new people and they find out that we are both Marriage and Family Therapists either one of two lines will follow. Either, “You guys must have the perfect marriage… I bet you never fight.” or “Wow, I bet you guys can really duke it out!” This always highlights for me that we live under the impression that relationships are either “good” or “bad”. That either partners get along,…