The Trap of Gender Role Expectations in Couples Counseling

May 23, 2025 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you sometimes get caught up in thinking that there are certain things you think you “should“ do in your relationship just because of your gender identity? Do you often think that there are certain things that your partner should or should not do because of their gender role identity in the relationship? Do you judge yourself harshly when you don’t measure up to these gender role expectations, or judge your partner for that also? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then this blog post is for you!

Why Trust Needs Constant Nurturing in Long-Term Relationships

April 21, 2025 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you struggle with feeling somehow distant from your partner in your primary relationship? Do you sometimes wonder if your partner still loves you? Do you sometimes wonder if your partner has your best interest at heart? If you answered yes to at least two of these questions then you would do well to read on!

Shared Values and Their Impact on Long-Term Relationship Success

March 24, 2025 Scott Kampschaefer

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Have you ever wondered about whether your partner puts importance on the same things that you do? Do you ever feel like you and your relationship partner are pulling in opposite directions in the relationship? Do you feel like your attraction to your partner is at odds with the reasons that you’re in the relationship in the first place? If you answered yes to one of these questions, then I urge you to read on, as this blog post is for you!

The Difference Between Healthy Love and Codependency

February 26, 2025 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you sometimes find yourself or your partner getting too much in each other’s business? Do you tend to feel an intense longing or pain when your relationship partner is gone for any significant period of time? Do you find it easier to worry about your partner than yourself? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you may have a problem with codependency and would do well to continue to read on.

Why Date Nights are Essential for Stronger Relationships

January 17, 2025 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you and your partner struggle to find time to spend with just each other? Do you feel like your relationship has gotten stale and you don’t spend much time doing anything fun with your partner? Do the demands of family life keep getting in the way of time connecting with your partner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I urge you to read on to get help in having date nights regularly.

Why Some Couples Let Small Issues Become Big Problems

December 16, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Are you someone who hates conflict in your relationship? Do you find yourself much of the time doing anything to avoid having to confront your partner about a problem? Do you find yourself struggling with resentment in your relationship? If you answered yes to two or more of the questions, then please read on because this week’s blog post is for you!

How Relationship Therapy Can Help You While Single and Searching

November 18, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you wonder why you keep picking partners that are bad for you? Do you wonder why you are still single despite family and friends telling you how wonderful you are? Do you struggle to communicate in your primary relationship in order to develop emotional intimacy? If so, then this week’s blog post is for you!

How to Deal with Financial Inequality in Your Relationship

September 10, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you sometimes feel like you're “less than“ because you don’t earn as much as your partner? Do you sometimes feel somewhat resentful that you have to carry the financial load for your family because your partner doesn’t earn nearly as much as you? In either case, you could be struggling with some of the emotional effects of financial inequality in your relationship, so please read on.

4 Signs You Are in a Manipulative Relationship

July 22, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you have a partner who is constantly threatening to break up with you or are you the one constantly threatening to break up? Do you have a hard time asserting your opinions in the relationship, or are you always trying to get your way? If you answered ‘yes' to one or more of these questions, you may very well be in a manipulative relationship, and it would help to know how to cope with the situation. I urge you to read on in that case.

What Happens If You Experience a Break Up During Couples Therapy?

June 10, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Have you ever started couples therapy and then wound up having a break up while you’re going through it? If so, do you wonder why in the world that would happen considering you’re finally at a point of getting help? I’ll try to answer these questions in this week's blog post .

Is There a Genetic Component to Infidelity?

May 1, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Have you found yourself engaging in a pattern of cheating on your spouse or partner, much like one of your parents did before you? Do you wonder if you have the “infidelity gene?” Do you want to blame your behavior on your parents' bad example? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions then I urge you to read on.

3 Ways Self Compassion Can Improve Your Relationship

March 19, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you find yourself talking critically to yourself about your relationship situation? Do you often find yourself stealing the thunder from your partner when they criticize you and talking even more negatively about yourself when that happens? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then self compassion could definitely help improve your relationship situation.

5 Keys to Determining Incompatibility With Your Partner

January 23, 2024 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you wonder if you’ve met the right person or not? Do you even know how to tell if who you’re with is right for you? Do you find you and your partner constantly getting into headbutting sessions over some fundamental issues? You may have a problem with basic compatibility, so read on.

The Corrosiveness of Contempt in Relationships

November 7, 2023 Scott Kampschaefer

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Have you ever found yourself feeling like you hate your relationship partner? Have you found yourself ever acting in ways that seem to be totally counter to the way you want to show up in your relationship? If you do, then I encourage you to continue to read because this blog post May be very helpful for you.

How the Barbie Movie Can Be Good for Your Relationship

September 12, 2023 Scott Kampschaefer

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If you enjoyed watching the Barbie movie, and find it causes you to question your primary relationship, you’re not alone. Did you watch it and think that you were looking at some kind of upside down world? If you did, then you’re not alone either, but this movie does have positive implications for our partnered relationships going forward.

How Active Listening Can Improve Your Relationship

August 14, 2023 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you often find yourself trying to give your relationship partner direct answers to questions, or seeking to ‘fix’ a problem that is presented for apparent resolution? If you do, you probably struggle with your listening skills, and active listening could be the best way to solve some of your relationship problems.

Relationship Conflict and the New Relational Life Therapy

July 17, 2023 Scott Kampschaefer

Do you and your partner continually wind up butting heads over issues you know in your heart are really trivial? Do you feel stymied by continuing to have the same argument with your partner over and over again? Well, the answer can probably be found in Terry Real’s new book: Us, which deals with how to recover from relationship conflicts. I review this book in the space below.

Is Polyamory Right for You and Your Relationship?

May 4, 2023 Scott Kampschaefer

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Have you ever wondered whether polyamory might be good for you, particularly in the context of an ongoing relationship? Have you felt that at times being able to focus your love and affection on more than one partner would be beneficial for you? I will try to answer these questions in this week's blog post, so read on.

6 Signs of Relationship Burnout

January 17, 2023 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you feel like you put a lot of time and effort into giving to your partner, but you get little to nothing in return? Do you feel like your partner doesn’t take enough interest in you in consideration of how much you put forth? Do you feel like you can predict how your partner will act or react to certain situations, and they invariably do these things? If you answered yes to most or all of these questions, you may be suffering from relationship burnout.

Learn Your Partner's Love Language for Better Connection

October 18, 2022 Scott Kampschaefer

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Do you get things for your partner and wonder why they don’t respond more positively to your gifts? Do you find yourself not responding as positively as you or your partner would like to the favors they do for you or the gifts they get you? It may have a lot to do with not being aware of your partner’s love language, or vice versa, and finding out about it could make a big difference in your relationship.