7 Tips for Co-Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Last updated on: April 5, 2020 at 2:26 pm By Terry Gaspard

These are challenging times for families coping with at staying at home, financial stress, home-schooling, anxiety, fears about becoming ill, and sharing space with others who are quarantined or working at home. Stress can cause people to be irritable and inpatient. Many divorced parents are finding themselves in unchartered territory when it comes to carrying out a co-parenting plan. However, one topic that hasn’t been covered much by the press is co-parenting after divorce during the pandemic. At its best,... Read more

12 Self-Care Tips That Can Help You Cope with the Coronavirus

Last updated on: March 28, 2020 at 7:20 pm By Terry Gaspard

If you’re feeling scared, or even terrified about the future, remember that we’re all in unchartered territory with the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps the worst part of this crisis for many is the growing uncertainty about when things will get back to normal. We ask ourselves daily: when will the Corona Virus subside so we can take back our lives and resume our former routine? For instance, Claire, age, 38, is stressed about being the primary breadwinner now that her husband,... Read more

3 Action Steps to Show Appreciation to Your Partner During COVID-19

Last updated on: March 22, 2020 at 10:21 pm By Terry Gaspard

Without a doubt, letting your partner know that you understand them and validating their perspective are powerful ways to preserve your marriage during this COVID-19 virus crisis. This includes showing appreciation for one another by offering sincere and positive appreciation. My challenge to you is this: follow the action steps below and be sure to express appreciation to your partner twice a day. In Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, Dr. John Gottman writes, “With a little effort and empathy, you can... Read more

Should Couples Add Kindness to Their Toolkit When Fighting?

Last updated on: March 12, 2020 at 11:29 am By Terry Gaspard

In an article for The Good Men Project, Sanaa Hyder, M.S.Ed., advocates that kindness is key for couples when trying to diffuse arguments, and also is also an effective tool when approaching a disagreement before a fight erupts. Referring to a cutting edge interview of Dr. Julie Gotten (Atlantic Magazine), Hyder believes that adding kindness — and mindfulness — to your toolkit will go a long way toward creating and maintaining a happy, long-lasting relationship. While the notion of approaching your partner with kindness... Read more

How Do I Save My Marriage?

Last updated on: March 4, 2020 at 7:22 pm By Terry Gaspard

Dear Terry, I’ve been married for three years and the issues and stress we have is too much sometimes. When we were dating, things were fun and we had a lot in common. Dave and I were both recently divorced and met through a friend. It wasn’t romantic at first, but then we started hanging out together and realized we had a lot in common and there was a spark. We both love music, play an instrument, and are teachers.... Read more

7 Tips to Revive Sexual and Emotional Intimacy with Your Partner

Last updated on: November 2, 2021 at 11:36 am By Terry Gaspard

Many couples who come to my office for counseling complain that they have drifted apart and have lost sexual intimacy in their marriage or relationship. If this is true of you, you may not be connecting emotionally, which can lead to detachment and lack of passion. Michelle, 43, put it like this: “Joshua rarely initiates sex anymore and I admit that I don’t feel sexually attracted to him. We’re just not on the same page and it’s been months since... Read more

Infidelity: Does It Have to End My Marriage?

Last updated on: February 18, 2020 at 8:54 pm By Terry Gaspard

During a couples counseling session, Rebecca, 40, sat on the couch across from Brian, 41, her husband of fifteen years, and spoke about finding out he was unfaithful to her last month. She put it like this: “I didn’t really see it coming even though we hadn’t had sex in over a year. I thought we were just going through a dry patch. But then I found a receipt from a weekend at a resort on Cape Cod and it... Read more

How Mistrust Can Destroy a Second Marriage and What to Do About It

Last updated on: February 19, 2020 at 3:56 pm By Terry Gaspard

The breakup of a marriage can set the stage for feelings of mistrust – even if you’ve never had trust issues previously. After a marriage ends, especially if you’ve endured infidelity, it’s normal to doubt your ability to trust yourself and others. Falling in love and getting remarried can be invigorating but can also be scary at the same time. Love can be sweeter the second time around but when the bliss wears off, trust issues may surface and cause... Read more

8 Positive Ways to Connect with Your Stepchild

Last updated on: February 19, 2020 at 3:56 pm By Terry Gaspard

The role of a stepparent can be tricky and there’s no such thing as instant love between a stepparent and a stepchild. It’s worth your time to understand your stepchild’s perspective and to realize that you’re not going to replace their biological parent but you can still make a positive impact on his or her life. Different from a biological parent, a major thrust of being a stepparent is to be an adult friend to your stepchildren on some level.... Read more

6 Ways Couples Can Make Up After a Fight and Move On

Last updated on: February 19, 2020 at 3:57 pm By Terry Gaspard

I’ve often stated that one of the most important elements of a successful marriage is being able to repair your relationship after an argument. By the way, this doesn’t mean that all of your disputes will be solved. It simply means that you can find ways to restore intimacy, forgive each other, and move forward without bitterness or holding a grudge. Dr. John Gottman advises us that couples can live with unsolvable differences about ongoing issues in their relationship as long... Read more