Electronic Infidelities

In my mid-20s, I felt stuck in the most irrelevant job I could imagine. Without really intending to, I found myself at a business news company, employed to write one newsletter about telecommunications and another about multimedia. After six years of trying to make phone companies and the cable industry sound interesting, I ran screaming […]

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A Round of Applause

My 14-month-old daughter claps for just about everything these days – a song on the radio, the sight of our dog, strawberries at lunch, etc. Of course I think this is charming, but lately I am finding her generous reception to be quite wise. When we receive applause or appreciation of any kind, it reinforces […]

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A Better Valentine’s Day

Most of us could admit having a love-hate relationship with Valentine’s Day. We might remember the excitement of getting roses from a new love or trading candy hearts with childhood friends, but we also can’t forget old heartbreaks or ignore new loneliness. And the holiday’s presumptive focus on those who have a “special someone” can […]

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Fear and Loathing … and Couples Therapy?

Why are couples afraid of therapy? This question circulated on an Imago listserv a few weeks ago. Therapists across the country noted the difficulty in convincing couples that therapy can be a gift to their relationships, not something to fear. The comments resonated with what I hear from clients, colleagues, and my own circle of […]

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Counselor Travels to Russia to Make Cultural Connections

When Rebecca Sears started presenting on Imago Relationship Therapy in St. Petersburg, Russia, five years ago, she assumed her translator knew what she meant when she said counseling could help couples “connect.” Soon, however, the confused faces of her students hinted that something wasn’t quite making the transition from English to Russian. “I eventually found […]

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Latin American Culture Often Poses Challenges For Counselors, But It Also Provides Valuable Lessons

A female Latino client visits a counselor for an initial session. She asks direct questions about a specific dilemma and details her plans to seek additional input from her doctor, priest and godparents. The client thanks the therapist, leaves and does not return. Many counselors might consider this a failure. But according to Esteban Montilla, […]

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Helping Couples Cope With The Roller Coaster Ride of Infertility

Denny and Lisa Ceizyk of Oro Valley, Ariz., benefited from the encouragement of caring counselors, doctors and retreat leaders during their six-year journey through infertility. But the pain caused by one support group session still stands out. A counselor decided to include both primary and secondary infertility patients in the same support group. This meant […]

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