Two Ways to Boost the Emotional Safety in Your Relationship

Emotional safety is one of the most important elements of any happy and healthy relationship. Yet there are so many ways it can be compromised. Sometimes it happens inadvertently and…

The Most Important Aspect of Affair Recovery for the Betrayed Partner

The emotional backlash of an affair on the partner who was cheated on can be earth shattering. Whether there was suspicion of this happening leading up to the discovery or…

Bad Relationships on Repeat? Break Your Unhealthy Patterns

Criticism. Sarcasm. Disrespect. Repeat. These are just some of the relationship behaviors that some when reoccurring can leave you wondering, “How did I get here again?” The relationship may have…

Combat Loneliness by Learning to Connect

We humans have an innate, deep need for connection with each other. It can feel great when we connect but if not, it can lead to loneliness. Inauthenticity and emotional…

How to Be More Emotionally Available, and Why

Being emotionally available is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. It allows for openness, communication, intimacy and depth. Then why is being emotionally unavailable such a common problem for people? Because…

The Often-Overlooked Glue of Long-Term Relationships

Most people know what it feels like in the beginning of a relationship when both of your brains are busy bringing you together, as in the “honeymoon phase.” Romantic love…

Sexless Relationships and the Layered Cake Metaphor

Alysha Jeney, LMFT, looks at a lack of sex in relationships, the layered cake metaphor and what sex positivity looks like. A lack of sex in relationships can vary from…

When a Husband’s Desire for His Wife To Be Happy Gets Tricky

Richard Nicastro, PhD, through the eyes of “Nina,” explores what it can look like when protective love turns into hopeless frustration. — If you’re a woman in a committed relationship,…

Valentines Day: Is it Time to Refocus on Your Relationship?

Many relationships have taken a beating over the past months. The preoccupation and distraction of COVID has had consequential impact on couples everywhere as their relationships have slipped out of…

Goodbye 2020: Best of LoveAndLifeToolbox.com to Get You Through the Pandemic

With the collective challenges of 2020, my annual “Best of Emotional and Relationship Health” featured post to ring in the New Year is a little different. Typically I share my…