You could say a close relationship depends on trust. To feel close, you need to open your inner world -- your thoughts and feelings -- to another person. You have to trust your partner to care about how you feel and…
Have you ever looked at a loved one's photo and felt happy? After sharing a problem with someone who understands, did a wave of peace and calm wash over you? You might enjoy such feelings because of a special emotional bond…
Eye contact in relationships has a huge impact on making you feel loved. When love is new, eye contact can be spine-tingling and exhilarating. "When we gaze into each other’s eyes, we are looking at somebody who isn’t predictable. We’re reminded…
Do you hide personal issues you're facing from your partner? You might want to protect your loved one from worrying too much. But there's a risk to your partnership in keeping too much of your inner world to yourself. Sometimes one…
Modern life puts a great deal of pressure our relationships. Does this sound like you? You struggle to balance work, family and "me" time. You scramble to keep up with loved ones, friends and colleagues. Maybe you're juggling childcare, elder care,…
A huge challenge for parents is knowing how help when children make mistakes. A parent's support, especially when things don't go well, fosters the self-worth and self-compassion it takes to learn from what happened. I recently watched my brother coach his kids on…
Touch, eye contact, and physical play feel good. They are the building blocks of parent-child connection. What's more, they nurture our brains, hearts, and disease-fighting systems. They help us build secure relationships. Many parents see the value of helping children learn…
You may have heard that emotionally responsive parents are important to a child's wellbeing. What does being a good dad look like to you? Our culture idolizes a tough man who doesn't crack under pressure. Anger seems to be the most…
How do physical touch and consensual sex help build a healthy relationship? When you are emotionally uncomfortable with someone and they touch you, what happens? You shrink from them. You may even back away. It's only human. For touch to be…
Injuries happen in all relationships. You can hurt each other even when you didn't want to. Maybe you two aren't even speaking right now, but you want to feel close again. So, how to heal a relationship after a fight? Some…
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