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Coping with Cancer in Your Relationship Jun 16, 2014

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Is a life-threatening diagnosis endangering your relationship?

Life-threatening diseases and illnesses, like cancer, are never easy to cope with in any circumstance. When these illnesses come into your life, you are faced with the possibility of not surviving the sickness. Not only are you dealing with the unknown, but you have the doctor’s visits and medical bills to deal with. When you have to go to several follow-ups to see the progression, or regression, of the illness, you are having to take time off of work. When you take time off of work, you aren’t receiving as much income as you were before. With the increasing medical expenses, income is important to be able to pay off these debts. These effects of the illness can put stress not only on yourself but onto your loved ones as well. What can we do to move forward in our relationships when our loved one is dealing with a life-threatening illness.

Earning her Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Gina LaFrazza is founder and owner of Gina LaFrazza, Psy.D., PLLC. Dr. LaFrazza is a licensed psychologist with over ten years of experience in various sub-fields of psychology. She works with individuals, couples and families across the lifespan, providing therapy and comprehensive psychological and educational assessments. Dr. LaFrazza has a range of experience stemming from her work in a variety of settings. She has conducted assessments in one of the top hospitals in the nation for rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury, provided therapy in college counseling centers such the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and provided various services in private practices. Dr. LaFrazza is a member of the North Carolina Psychological Association.

To find out more about Dr. Gina LaFrazza and her practice, Gina LaFrazza Psy.D. PLLC, you can visit their website or call (919) 747-1531 for an appointment.

Approaching Gridlocked Communication Patterns Jun 09, 2014

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Is communication becoming an issue in your relationship?

Communication seems to be an issue in any kind of setting these days. Whether it is communication at work, at home or in a relationship, there are always problems with communicating with one another. With the rise in technology and social media, communication is even more complicated than before. With texting, emailing, and chatting, messages get lost in translation and allows the recipient to analyze and interpret it as they wish. When it comes to couples, communication is a big part in having a successful relationship. It is important for each partner to convey their needs and wants with each other. It is also important for each partner to disclose their dislikes. When we can’t communicate properly, our relationships with one another can suffer. What can we do to communicate better in our relationships?

Earning her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University, Jennifer Moynihan Wynn is founder and owner of Finding Balance, PLLC in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Jennifer completed an internship at ECU Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic in the Day Rehab Program for Brain Injury Survivors and their family members. She has an extensive background working in various mental health settings. She has experience doing group and individual therapy for mental health and substance abuse. Jennifer has provided training for Brain Injury Awareness in the community. She has also written articles for quarterly newsletter and provided resource support for survivors and their families.

To find out more about Jennifer Moynihan Wynn and her practice, Finding Balance, PLLC, you can visit their website or call (919) 926-8057 for an appointment.

Effects of Social Media on a Relationship May 26, 2014

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Is your relationship being affected by social media?

The world of social media is growing every day. It feels like every time a new website or app for your phone comes into existence, another follows right behind it. We now have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat among others that many people use every day. It seems that an alarming amount of people communicate more online than in person. You go to a restaurant and you can look around and see the amount of people on their phones instead of communicating with the person right in front of them. Can the use of social media harm your relationship? What can we do to save our relationships in this situation?

Earning his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Trevecca Nazarene University, Mr. Jessee Eppley is a therapist at Healing Solutions Counseling Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Eppley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate. He has extensive experience working with Emotionally Focused Therapy which emphasizes encouraging individuals and couples to move from stuck relationships and patterns of life into a fuller experience of health. Using this model, people move from tension and disconnect towards a deeper experience of intimacy.

To find out more about Mr. Healing Solutions Counseling Centerand his practice, Healing Solutions Counseling Center, you can visit their website or call (980) 237-3880 for an appointment.

5 Steps to Benefit Our Relationships and Bodies May 19, 2014

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Do you have a healthy relationship with your body and partner?

As summer is approaching, we shed our winter layers for more skin bearing attire, which for some also means a time to get our bodies “in shape.” While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to lose the few pounds we put on over the winter, too much focus on attaining the ideal body can lead to unhealthy extreme behaviors to lose that weight as well as a distorted body image. With social media always commenting about celebrities bodies and talking about the best diets to get the perfect body, it’s no wonder so many people have a negative body image. But we can learn to have a positive healthy relationship with our partners. What steps can we take to better our relationship with our bodies and our partners?

Earning her Doctoral and Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Nina Solanki has an expansive background in the healthcare profession ranging from private practice to crisis centers and everything in between. She has a passion for mindfulness, exercise and nutrition. These days, Dr. Solanki is a therapist with Lepage Associates in Durham, North Carolina incorporating her work and knowledge of mindfulness and healthy lifestyle behaviors into both individual and couples therapy.

To find out more about Dr. Nina Solanki and her practice, Lepage Associates, you can visit their website or call (919) 572-0000 for an appointment.

How to Make an Effective Apology May 12, 2014

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Do you know what it takes to make an effective apology?

Nobody is perfect; we have all done something that requires a sincere apology towards another person. Whether it was borrowing something from a friend without asking, forgetting about plans made with your spouse, or lying to your loved ones we have all had to take responsibility for our actions and offer an apology to smooth things over. When it comes to relationships, you have to be able to genuinely be sorry and apologize for things you have done wrong. If you do not, your partner may feel like they don’t matter or that you do not care about their feelings. Learning to make an effective apology can save yourself and your partner those negative feelings. How do we make an effective apology to our loved ones?

Professor of Family Medicine at UNC School of Medicine, as well as Director of Behavioral Medicine in the Dept of Family Medicine at Carolina Medical Center; Dr. Matthew Alexander is a psychologist and Founder of Alexander Therapy in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Alexander specializes in clinical, health and family psychology giving him a strong background in family systems, psychodynamic and interpersonal approaches to mental health. Dr. Alexander primarily treats couples in his private practice and is also available for public presentations on a variety of topics related to relationships.

To find out more about Dr. Matthew Alexander and his practice, Alexander Therapy, you can visit their website or call (704) 371-3070 for an appointment.

Conflict in Relationships May 05, 2014

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Do you have what it takes to overcome conflict in your relationship?

Conflict is a part of everyday life. In literature we learn the different types of conflict which can be classified as “man versus man”, “man versus nature”, and “man versus self.” Although we are taught about the varying types of conflict in school, we aren’t necessarily taught how to deal with conflict and resolve our issues. When we come across conflict in our relationships, it is important to have the skills to overcome the problems so that you can continue to have a healthy relationship. If we are unable to mend our issues with our spouse there can be a variety of negative effects that can come about. What are some of the tools that we can use to overcome conflict in our relationships?

Earning her Masters degree from Northern Illinois University, Mrs. Shelly Hummel is CEO of The Align Center for Couples in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Mrs. Hummel specializes in helping couples create stronger and more meaningful relationships. She is a Gottman Certified Therapist and has been in practice for 16 years. Mrs. Hummel facilitated an educational program for the State of Iowa to divorcing parents entitled “Children in the Middle” as well as in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is a member of the North Carolina American Association of Marriage Therapists and a Certified Seven Principles Educator. She sees couples for weekly sessions or for intensives, which are 1 to 3 days of intensive therapy for local or out-of-state couples in crisis.

To find out more about Shelly Hummel and her practice, The Align Center for Couples, you can visit their website or call (919) 880-2566 for an appointment.

Communication in Your Marriage Apr 28, 2014

Show notes

Do you struggle with effective communication in your relationship?

Advances in technology these days has allowed for several means of communication to be created and utilized. Back in the simpler days you had to talk to someone face to face or over the phone which allowed for more intimate conversations with each other. Today, we have texting, social media, and email. Through using these new instruments of communication you lose that sense of intimacy with each other which can cause translation to be lost between each other. How can we overcome our transgressions when it comes to communicating with each other in this day and age?

Earning her Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University, Mrs. Amanda Lis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at New Perspectives Therapy in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has experience working in private practice counseling, assessment and managed care. Mrs. Lis is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her areas of special interest are in working with couples on issues like improving communication, conflict management, building trust and increasing emotional intimacy. Mrs. Lis has worked with families, couples and individuals on issues dealing with a variety of disorders as well as relationship problems.

To find out more about Amanda Lis and her practice, New Perspectives Therapy, you can visit their website or call (980) 285-8041 for an appointment.

Fight or Flight in Intimate Relationships Apr 21, 2014

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Do you have the skills to transform crises into connection in your relationship?

Hollywood tends to portray marriages and relationships in such a harmonious way where communication, trust, and honesty are never an issue.. However, we are all aware that relationships are never perfect and take quite a bit of work from both partners to be successful. Couples may have difficulties agreeing on the way to manage finances, raise children or spend their free time. In these times of disagreement things can get tense and uncomfortable for both people involved. We all tend to deal with these problems in different ways. Some people may instinctively get defensive while others may try to ignore the problem altogether. How do you turn these times of conflict into a way to connect with one another.

Earning her Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology at Temple University, Dr. Susan Orenstein is founder and director of Orenstein Solutions in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Orenstein has devoted her professional career to helping individuals and couples improve their most intimate relationships. She specializes in relationship and couples issues. Dr. Orenstein is committed to providing state-of-the-art practices in marital counseling and to that end, continues to attend professional training programs.

To find out more about Dr. Susan Orenstein and her practice, Orenstein Solutions, you can visit their website or call (919) 428-2766 for an appointment.

Are You Marriage Material? Apr 14, 2014

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Do you have what it takes to handle the ups and downs of marriage?

Have you ever wondered if you were marriage material? Before walking down the aisle, wedding vows symbolize the epitome of romance. However, once you’ve said ‘I do’, the words”till death do us part” sounds more like a punishment than a reward. Marriage isn’t always a walk in the park – it’s hard. To make a marriage work it takes blood, sweat and tears; literally. How well are you able to navigate the winding road of marriage?

Earning his masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Sonoma State University, Mr. Geoffry Luce is the founder of Marriage Alliance Counseling in Durham, NC. Mr. Luce has completed internships in marriage and family counseling, as well as employee assistance and chemical dependency programs. Practicing in both Durham and Fayetteville, Mr. Luce is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina with extensive experience working with couples, families, adolescents, and individual adults. One of the key visions he has in life is to help others build strong, lasting marriages.

To find out more about Geoffry Luce and his practice, Marriage Alliance Counseling, you can visit their website or call (919) 923-8634 for an appointment.

SHM Encore: Fifty Shades of Grey: Erotic or Abusive? Apr 07, 2014

Show notes

Is your love life an erotic novel or abusive nightmare?

The 50 Shades of Grey trilogy has steadily remained at the top of the New York Times bestseller list for several months. The risqué nature of the book that once started out as Twilight fan-fiction is catching the attention of men and women across the globe. Aptly nicknamed “Mommy Porn”, the over the top erotic and abusive nature of the trilogy evokes visions of a modern version of The Story of O. Questions about the nature of the intense relationship between the two main characters and the book’s strong appeal to women are being discussed widely.

In marriage, how do you determine whether the dynamic between you and your spouse is healthy or abusive when behaviors encourage dominant and submissive relationships?

Colette Segalla is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Colette is a psychotherapist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC where she works with individuals and couples on issues ranging from anxiety and depression to problems in sexual intimacy. She enjoys working with couples to improve communication, connection, and emotional and physical intimacy.

To find out more about Colette Segalla and her practice, Lepage Associates in Durham, NC, you can visit them online or call 919-572-0000 for an appointment.