communication

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.

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.

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.