Basic Information More Information ACCEPTANCE—Even LESS than Meets the I! Allan Schwartz Interviewed by the BBC about "The Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul" Building or Strengthening Your Relationship Does Marriage Counseling Work? Emotional IQ Gossip: Of Politics, People and Relationships Great Relationships: Five Things I’ve Learned from Couples in My Practice How to Ask for What You Want: a Fable and a Story Improve Your Relationship Tonight Infidelity, To Divorce or Not? Intolerance and Discrimination Is It Love or Codependency? Let's Have a Dialogue Loneliness, A Deadly Disease Looking For Smiles: How Stories Shape Relationships Love Online: Reality vs. "Romantasy" Making Peace with Guilt — How to Clean Up Harm Marriage: I, You, We and, What's in a Pronoun? Of Marriage, Communication and Sex Psychological Jujitsu/Aikido/Alchemy — "Conversation Stoppers" Relationships and the Silent Treatment Relationships, Former Lovers, and Trust Speaking Male, Speaking Female — Communicating Into Another's Listening Stigmatized: How Some People Become Judged The Chemistry of Love The Fine Art of Listening Can Transform the Quality of Your Communication and Relationships The Great Equalizers of Life: The Human Experience Reveals We Are Far More Alike Than Different The Many Meanings of the Eyes in Human Interaction The Relationship Dance The Science of Love Part I: Calming the Hurricane Time-Starved Relationships To Fight or Flight on the Intimacy Battlefield Valentines Day, How to Keep the Flame Alive Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Kristin Celello, Ph.D, on the History of Marriage in 20th Century America Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with William and Carlene Glasser on Happier Marriages Words and Meanings, Intended and Not Latest News Questions and Answers Help with a Histrionic Friend I am an 18 Year Old Mom Diagnosed With Severe Depression And Anxiety Boyfriend Still Acting Like a Bachelor Middle-Aged Female Never In Love She Doesn't Behave Like My Love Completes Her. Should I Be Hopeful That He Will Change His Mind About Divorce? Is It Him Who Is Too Hard To Trust Or Is It Me? Silent Treatment I Want To Die! I Really Need Some Advice... How Can I Cope With My Husband´s Depression and Its Sexual Consequences? Am I Over Thinking This, or Am I Right? How Do I Handle This? Boyfriend My Husband is Too Affectionate What Should I do? Is it Really a Problem? Am I Not Normal!? Husband Abandoned Me Breaking up With Bipolar He's Distant. Is he Leaving me? My Boyfriend Saved Pictures of his Ex-Girlfriend on His Computer. My Boyfriend Wants to Experiment With Men Depression in College Seniors My Fiancee, The Wall Is Up My Boyfriend and His Adult Daughter Guys Think I Am Too Much for Them to Handle Why do Men Not Find Me Attractive? I Think My Husband has Sex and Intimacy Issues What Should I Do? Relationship Never Been In a Serious Relationship Am I Being Used? Sudden Separation After Loss of Father Am I In Danger? Does Being Drunk Bring Out the True Personality? Overdriven and Uncontrolled Sex Drive Needs Daily Masturbation Voices Husband's Weight Problem What to do? I Love Her, but I Want That Spark Back Why do I Reject My Boyfriend's Son? Walking Home Is She Mentally Ill? Bipolar and sexual dysfunction? It Just Keeps Getting Worse, Sarah What To Do? Mask and Encasement Fetish, Mete How Can I Trust Again?? Fiancee is bi-sexual I feel ugly and smell and smell down below. Is this normal? My boyfriend is a Sociopath Holding Throat Sadistic Sexual Fantasies - Erotica. Will I ever feel normal? Relationship Anxiety No romance after baby! Save my marriage! Sexual issues with husband My husband has left me for another woman. How do I let go? Help my son with his morbid jealous girlfriend, get him out. Anti social with accepting girlfriend Relationship Transference Do you really ever 'Just Know' ? Anxiety In A Relationship Bisexuality and Marriage How can I forgive my husband to save our marriage? How to deal with a pot smoker who uses it to cover mental problem - - Oct 23rd 2008 how to ask if the pics are her? My husband has admitted he is an alcoholic...how do we heal How much guilt is normal? Unhappy Marriage Torn between two lovers, and scared of what I'll do How Can I Aviod Sexual Anxiety? Terminating Therapy after 17 years Why is he ruining our relationship? Sexual Anxiety Help with My Husband Nervous about nudity I beg you to give me your suggestions - Saman - Aug 4th 2008 Is he crazy or am I? Boyfriend with APD - frustrated - Nelly - Jul 21st 2008 Why does my boyfriend's ex-girlfriend have to be so involved in his life? "A Man's Perspective," Nick H. July 9, Men, Women, Marriage and Sex Should I try to salvage this relationship? Dating a Psychologist and Feeling Inferior Is It Abuse? - Erin - Jun 24th, 2008 Why abuse survivor I never feel enough affection from my boyfriend. Am I obsessing? I think we got married for the wrong reasons. Can bondage and discipline tendencies be turned off? My partner of 6 years suddenly left with no explanation and has completely shut me and my kids out- Elise My boyfriend doesn't seem to have gotten over his ex-girlfriend Insane Jealousy Boyfriend's skeletons and friends' opinions Is it my fault if my family falls apart after he cheats? Child jealous of moms relationship with her new husband Rough Sex wife wants to seperate after 23 yrs. Husband in alcohol rehab My ex-husband tells me he wants to be with me again but won't move out of his girlfriend's house Jealousy, Anger, Depression and Fear Low Sex Drive dealing with demanding mother My Wife is Depressed. Should I help her to Toughen Up or Just Be There for her? Engaged to be married but fighting. The wedding date has been canceled. Long Distance Relationship Trials He cheats on me. Is it my fault? So sick of this lying crap he puts on me was this a contolling relationship, and why would I put up with it? Does my husband love his daughter more than me (his wife)? alcohlic husband Feel like I'm trapped dating and the stigma of mental health. What\'s the matter? My girlfriend wants to stop being critical but doesn't know how Finally have a stable marriage, but having sex problems A fighting couple It seems like I have to choose between my husband and my son! two intelligent adults who feel they don\'t have friends Should I get involved? hard decision My OCPD husband can't tolerate my 'flaws' My Fiancee Can't Get Over His Late Wife what can i do? Just looking? Husband with erratic behavior Bored husband after verbal abuse Loyalty or Love? Should I leave my husband? Very confusing relationship Disbelief will my husband still love me after he comes out of major depression? Confronting A Marriage Problem How do I forgive and forget when my husband abandoned me? Other Woman divorce Who is my wife? How to move on with everything against you? The Catch 22 of Fear of Abandonment Learning To Set Limits what am i afraid of? Nude women an issue? How to work out differences Abusive relationship ever change? There are no guarantees when it comes to love I compromised and gave in Going through his things Advice for my unhappily married friend He's selfish, disrespectful and irresponsible I have a crush on my husband's friend Why am I gay? I cannot continue to live without affection Regret my decision every single day He has hit me on a few occasions ... Lingering Feelings for my old affair partner Obsessed with the woman who is about to marry my ex Wife of 21 Years Has a Boyfriend Having trouble letting go of ex-sister-in-law I suspect that my husband is cheating Boyfriend Talks Dirty Abusive Older Sister Explaining Divorce To Children Working Mother Wants To Stay Home Am I Just Deluding Myself? Attachment Issues Craving Attention Embarrassed and Ashamed of My Weakness Should I Just Be Alone For Now? Is Recovery Possible? Withdrawn Wife Husband Wants A Divorce Best Way To Deal With Verbal Abuse Helping My Husband Scared To Death Now Bondage and Discipline Duty vs. Freedom Grieving All The Time Decreased Interest Marital Problems? Living With PTSD Bosom Buddies Making Excuses What Abuse Looks Like Am I Wrong? Can You Help Me Save My Relationship? Marital Stress OCD And a Lying Husband He'll Never Marry Me Proper Sex Not Happening Ms. Doubtful Busted By A 5-Year-Old Unethical Counselor Bad Health And A Bum Husband Marriage Problems Most Likely Gay Husband Troubled Marriage Where Do I Go From Here? Frustrated and Sucked Dry Why Do I Provoke A Negative Attitude In Others? Depressed Husband Serious Problems Slobby Husband My Husband Won't Touch Me Arranged Marriage Recognizing Verbal Abuse Grieving and Clueless Lacking In Intimacy Marital Crisis One Side Of The Story Reader Comment #1 Schizophrenia? Pornography # 2: Should I Go Or Should I Stay? 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Married To A Control Freak Screaming And Cursing Husband Sleep Talker Abusive Husband Car Nut Torn Over Children Long Married Abused Wife Alcoholic Husband Affair Broken Trust I Want To Leave, But For The Children ... Dependent Husband Depressed Spouse Perfectionist Husband Independence Office Casanova The Secretary No Desire For Sex 1 No Desire For Sex 2 Some Short Ones First: Wanting That Magic Back Controlling, Disabled Husband Maxie the Moocher Drifting Apart? Is Divorce the Answer? Salvaging A Marriage Can A Marriage Withstand Group Sex? Explosive Anger Mental Abuse Uncomfortably Numb All Torn Lying, Cheating Husband My Wife the Prisoner Chaotic Family Life Lost Trust The Grass is Always Greener... How can I save my marriage? Emotionally Abusive Marriage: What To Do? A Social Marriage Cheating, Story No. 2,901 Husband's Secretary Too Close? A VIOLENT MARRIAGE SHOULD I BE AFRAID? Rocky Marriage Rocky Marriage, Part II Not There for Me Threatened by Suicide if I Leave Ba! Humbug! 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Unfaithful and Unhappy My Wife and Her Sister... Hanging On I'm Jealous of His Ex Ending a Relationship Mood Swings Dianne writes: Rob writes: Michelle writes: Parlante writes: Suzanne writes: bz writes: Carol-Ann writes: Laura writes: Blog Entries It's Just Not Fair! Insisting on Fairness & Justice is a Recipe For Conflict, Misery & Suffering Time-Starved Relationships Much Ado About Something The Fine Art of Listening Can Transform the Quality of Your Communication and Relationships Is It True: When The Going Gets Tough, Friends Get Going? Intolerance and Discrimination Psychological Jujitsu/Aikido/Alchemy — "Conversation Stoppers" Relationships, Former Lovers, and Trust Speaking Male, Speaking Female — Communicating Into Another's Listening Marriage and Pornography, Playing Devil's Advocate Empathy vs. Blame Emotional IQ Making Peace with Guilt — How to Clean Up Harm Relationships and the Silent Treatment How to Ask for What You Want: a Fable and a Story Sometimes We Must Fight, But Let's Know When Existential Crisis? Anger and Social Media Beyond Communication Skills: How People Change DNA Dating: The Future of Matchmaking? Building or Strengthening Your Relationship Five Emotional Sinkholes and Four Ways To Express Feelings Improve Your Relationship Tonight Looking For Smiles: How Stories Shape Relationships ACCEPTANCE—Even LESS than Meets the I! Facebook: Research Shows Your Privacy at Risk The Great Equalizers of Life: The Human Experience Reveals We Are Far More Alike Than Different Depression and Relationships: The Good News About Feeling Bad The Chemistry of Love Adult ADHD, Some Additional Thoughts Marriage: I, You, We and, What's in a Pronoun? Words and Meanings, Intended and Not Valentines Day, How to Keep the Flame Alive Matthews, Obama and Racism: What it Means for Us Eco-Friction: What It's Really About The Science of Love Part I: Calming the Hurricane What Everyone Should Know About the Dangers Facebook Poses to Your Relationships Great Relationships: Five Things I’ve Learned from Couples in My Practice Infidelity, To Divorce or Not? Self Help for Adult ADHD Of Othello and Delusional Jealousy Family Ties: Knowing Why and How They Must Remain Snug & Tied! Get Through the Holidays with Humor and Grace: Four Strategies for Couples and Families Is It Love or Codependency? Let's Have a Dialogue How to Gain Control of Your Mind, Instead of Your Mind Controlling You Of Marriage, Communication and Sex Does Marriage Counseling Work? Allan Schwartz Interviewed by the BBC about "The Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul" The Many Meanings of the Eyes in Human Interaction 7 Steps to Forgiving Your Partner The Relationship Dance Key Questions to Consider in Significant Relationships Relationships as a Spiritual Path Are You Codependent? Growing Through Divorce 3 Reasons You May Want Group Therapy Women Who Love Too Much, Are You One of Them? South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and the Power of Sex in our Lives An Interview with Kristin Celello, Ph.D, on the History of Marriage in 20th Century America I Blush, Therefore I... Some Thoughts about Perception, Communication and Disagreement: On Socializing, Making Friends and Meeting People: Strategies Recognizing an Alcohol Problem in Yourself Stigmatized: How Some People Become Judged Making Friends, A Matter of Where You Live? Rejection, Why Does It Hurt So Much? Gossip: A Form of Workplace Warfare "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist." Ralph Waldo Emerson Married 40 Years....And We Never had ONE Fight Relationships: Stop Watering the Seeds of Suffering Unhappy Wife = Unhealthy Life? On the Family As A System and the Problem of Triangulation Past Loves and Facebook: To Connect or Not to Connect Arguing and Marriage: Go Together Like a Horse and Carriage Relationship problems? Consider this... Help your brain help you live the good life: Neuroplasticity and your strengths How this new economy can threaten your family without you even knowing it Turn 2009 into the year for you! A tip from Albert Einstein and Quantum Physics on relationships and well-being The Eyes Are The Windows To The Soul Are you listening to me? A key skill in this coming New Year Why Do Men Go To Prostitutes? On Loneliness, Warmth and Making Friends What Makes Therapy Work? Adult Male Circumcision and Sexual Satisfaction The new Technological Brain: Plusses and Minuses Alcohol and Personality Changes Gossip: Of Politics, People and Relationships Infidelity, Why do people cheat? The Problem of Sexual Fetishes and Marriage Male Sexual Response: But, What if It's Not the Woman??? On the Issue of Sexual and Other Feelings Towards the Therapist Loneliness, A Deadly Disease Marriage and Pornography Why so much fuss over Eliot Spitzer's affair? What did you mean by that? Words, Meanings and Context Marriage Today, the Latest An Interview with William Glasser, MD and Carleen Glasser on Happier Marriages Re-Invigorating Your Marriage Couples and Quarrelling Are We Too Sensitive Today? 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Introduction to Relationship Problems Mark Dombeck, Ph.D. Updated: May 16th 2006 This topic center concerns marriage and marriage-like relationship problems. Our aim here is to educate the reader about the nature of such problems and to illuminate what can be done to solve them when that is possible. We're going to use the term 'marriage' here for the most part, but it should be understood that what we have to say applies more or less as readily to domestic unions and most other types of cohabiting committed 'romantic' relationships, whether homosexual or heterosexual in orientation. The state may define marriage rather narrowly, but we take it as a given that relationship problems do not discriminate.
Most people enter into marriage with the best of intentions, assuming that they will remain in a permanent and happy union. Unfortunately, it is not always the case that relationships work out as planned. Many marriages degrade in quality over time and end up in a conflicted state. In recent years, something like 50% of formal marriages made in the United States have ended in divorce. This figure does not include the breakdown of other non-married but otherwise committed unions. Many people discover that it is, in fact, difficult to keep a marriage relationship alive and well. It takes work and mental flexibility that not everyone is willing or able to offer. 
