humor

Is there a right way and a wrong way to argue?

The answer is yes. And the secret’s out. There is a right way and a wrong way to argue. Oftentimes when couples fight, it becomes husband versus wife, him against her. The issue with that, however, is that the entire sense of the “team” attitude within the couple gets lost in the mess.

With a relationship it’s not about not getting angry or not disagreeing because that’s unrealistic. The true key is staying emotionally connected to someone you view as a teammate in a generally positive way. According to relationship expert John Gottman, there are two types of problems within relationships: resolvable and perpetual; and two out of three problems are perpetual. Luckily, there are conflict resolution skills for each kind of problem that couples can learn and use to ultimately strengthen their marriages.

Today’s guest is Erica Blystone, a licensed clinical social worker with Lepage Associates. After more than 10 years of clinical work with adults, couples, children and families, Erica has seen her fair share of conflict within relationships, and she says there is a way to manage it effectively.

To find out more about Erica and her practice, visit their website or call (919) 572-0000 to schedule an appointment.

Are you and your partner thinking outside the box when it comes to your relationship?

Say you’ve been married for 20 years… Or maybe even just two years… Is the relationship still fun and fresh? Are you and your partner getting the most out of your marriage? Sometimes couples that have been together for many years begin to feel a sense of staleness in their relationship. Maybe they have ongoing conflict and difficulty resolving it, or maybe they simply feel like they’ve lost the passion and excitement they once had.

When this happens to a couple, whether they’ve been together for 20 years or two years, the partners begin to grow apart and disconnect from each other. And to fix the ongoing problem, many couples end up forcing a solution by pushing harder and ultimately doing the same thing over and over again.

Interestingly, the solution to all this is far more attainable than most people think.

Today’s guest is Dr. Susan Orenstein, the Director of Orenstein Solutions in Cary, NC. Susan says couples can reignite their passion and start having fun again simply by thinking outside the box. By doing even just one thing differently. And if you’re thinking you can’t do it– think again. Susan is here to share some of her creative and inspiring ideas for how couples can improve and strengthen their marriages.

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

Trying to avoid the same old Valentine’s Day of flowers, cards, and chocolate? Look no further! Here we’ll share some fun and unique ideas.

As Valentine’s Day rolls around, many people begin to feel pressure to make the day special for their significant other. With life being so busy, however, a lot of couples end up defaulting to something nice, yes, but predictable- a nice romantic card, dinner out, maybe some flowers and of course, chocolate.

And while a night out like that is perfectly acceptable, it tends to be a bit been there, done that. The news is you can have a really fun and fulfilling Valentine’s Day that is unique and fresh without breaking the bank or going crazy trying to plan something. If you’re feeling frustrated or anxious about creating the perfect Valentine’s Day, take some time to join us today and check out some of our great ideas for your date night.

Dr. Tina Lepage from Lepage Associates is our guest, and she’s sharing some new, exciting ideas for making the day enjoyable and stress-free.

Local Events:

February 14, 4-8pm – Capital Area Transit invites you to join the “Love Bus” event to celebrate the R-Line’s 2nd anniversary. Take your date around downtown on the R-Line to receive free gifts like candy and flowers and coupons to local restaurants. Riders will also enjoy the tunes of local singing groups serenading them along the way. All attendees will be entered to win gift cards from local businesses that will be raffled off throughout the night.

February 11, 12, 13&14The Varsity Theatre will again be hosting a special showing of ‘Gone with the Wind.” Tickets- $20

February 2-20 – The 11th annual NC Comedy Arts Festival

January 29- March 6PlayMakers brings Tony Kushner’s ‘Angels in America,’ a two-part performance

February 12, 18&19 (8pm) and February 13&20 (4pm)Cary Players presents ‘Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense.’ Bring your sweetheart or best friend to the Page-Walker Arts & History Center in Cary, NC for a hefty serving of entertainment and sweet treats at intermission. Tickets- $17

To find out more about Tina and her practice, Lepage Associates, visit their website or call (919) 572-0000 to make an appointment.