How has age changed you?

Ideally as we age together in a relationship we grow closer and stronger.  But people do not always age equally, and how we look at another, our sense of attraction and our acceptance of those changes can sometimes add challenges.  In this episode, Alvean and Doug talk about how those changes can affect couples and how they can learn to grow closer and even more bonded as they age.

Relationships can end for many reasons but one of the most difficult causes is when there is another person involved.  Sometimes that other person is a newborn or a child from another relationship. In this episode, Alvean and Doug discuss the ways in which couples can cope with the array of feelings that may occur and how they can find resolution by redefining their definition of us.

Men (and women) can often be difficult to read.  They say or do one thing but mean something entirely different.  Learning to read the differences between what people say and what they feel takes some practice but there are ways to read the clues as subtle as they may be at times.  Alvean and Doug offer a guide book to the obvious and less clear signals we send , even when we think we are being discrete and suggest ways to help our partners reveal their innermost feelings in an environment built on trust and acceptance.  For a full trabscript, click here: LL53-What men rarely say but often feel

have you ever wondered if there are still any good men or women out there? It’s a pretty common question to ask, especially when one has been through less than ideal dating experiences.  The good news is that there are men and women with whom you might find an enduring relationship but you need to know how to spot them long before you decide to enter into anything long term.  Alvean and Doug offer some pointers on how to approach the challenge and ways in which we can be our own worst obstacle if we are not careful.  For a full transcript, click here: LL52-Are there any good men or women out there?

It goes without saying that breaking up is hard, and sometimes we make it even harder on ourselves and our soon to be ex.  While no one can relieve you entirely of the pain of breaking up–regardless of who initiated the it, there are ways to move forward that can minimize the hurt and in time help both parties to move on whole and happy. Alvean and Doug discuss the ways in which one can process the end of a relationship without incurring or causing anger, resentment, or the need for retribution. No one can make it easy, and it shouldn’t be, but breaking up does not need to be a pain one carries with them forever.  For a full transcript, click here: LL51-Breaking Up

The arrival of a child forever changes the dynamics of a relationship, usually for the better, but sometimes it can add strains to an already unstable relationship.  Alvean and Doug talk about how to overcome the challenges of new parenthood and accommodate the loving addition of a new life into an existing family. For a complete transcript, click here: LL50-And Baby Makes Three

In a perfect world a couple is loved and supported by their respective families but sometimes that turns out to be more of a challenge than not.  There is such a thing as toxic families, ones that pollute a relationship with negativity and place a strain on an otherwise loving couple–even to the point of dissolving their union.  In this episode, Alvean and Doug offer suggestions for the best way to navigate toxic family members and chart a secure and strong relationship in the midst of corrosive behavior. For a full transcript, click here: LL49 -Toxic Families

We have all heard of May-December romances, suggesting an age related gap–sometimes of many years.  But is such a disparity doomed to failure, a fantasy in novels but a nightmare in real life?  Can two people overcome the hurdles life poses and those that family and friends may add or is there simply a limit on the differences that will work in a successful relationship? In this episode Alvean and Doug take on the question and given the differences in their own ages and stages of life offer some thgoughts on how to navigate this thorny question.  Fot a full transcript, click here:LL48-Does Age Matter?

Getting what you want does not mean you need to be in a contest, one that can have lasting and damaging consequences for your relationship. In this episode, Alvean and Doug talk about the ways in which you can arrive at an outcome that strengthens your relationship while achieving the agency that each of you desire.  For more and a full transcript, click here: LL47-Getting What You Want

In times of trouble we often turn to our friends and families to counsel us and offer their support.  But is this a healthy approach to take?  In this episode, Alvean and Doug caution their listeners to avoid the mistake of relying on friends or family members as therapists, and offer some insight into the ways that approach can have lasting and negative consequences.  For a full transcript, click here: LL-46 Friends and Family as Counselors