Is your relationship lacking the intimacy it once had? With the pressure of a busy schedules, economic stress, and the multiple roles we all fill, it is only expected that we are all stressed and exhausted by the end of the day. With our energy levels tapped, our intimacy levels drop too. Carla Rosinski believes that a lack of sexual intimacy can be a symptom of a lack of intimacy in other areas.

Carla Rosinski, founder of Rosinski Therapy and Consultation in Raleigh, NC, has been focusing on counseling families, individuals, and couples for over 10 years. Carla is a licensed professional counselor with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. When Carla isn’t working with couples she enjoys traveling and spending time with her pup at the dog park. To find out more about Carla Rosinski and Rosinski Therapy and Consultation you can visit her website or call 919-724-1181 for an appointment.

Maybe you and your spouse started out having great sex on a regular basis. It might have been spontaneous, playful, energetic, and enjoyable. But over time, with hectic routines, kids to care for, and careers to balance, your sex life has suffered. Are you having sex less often? When you do have sex is it routine and unimaginative? Has the romance and adventure slipped away as the years have gone by? Many marriages suffer when the sex becomes rote and predictable or just doesn’t happen as often. Sexual intimacy is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy, happy marriage. Psychologist Colette Segalla joins us to teach us about how to re-vitalize your sex life and improve your satisfaction with sex and your marriage.

Colette Segalla is a psychologist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC. Colette has extensive training and experience working with people of all ages, with special training in the field of adult relationships. She has used her integrated approach to help lots of couples on both their individual and relationship problems in order to improve their relationships. To find out more about Colette, or to book an appointment, visit www.lepageassociates.com or call 919-570-0000.

Does it seem like the most serious arguments you and your partner have are always rooted in the same few things? Are you at your wit’s end from having the same arguments over and over?

Dr. Tina Tessina returns to the show to talk about her book Money, Sex, and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage. She explains how some of those constant stresses in life can turn into big stresses on your marriage, and what you can do about it.

Tina is a licensed psychotherapist in California with over thirty years of counseling experience. She’s written over a dozen books, and hosts a radio show and a relationship blog. You can find her only at TinaTessina.com, and her book Money, Sex, and Kids can be purchased from Amazon.

Does it feel like your relationship is good enough, but not all that it could be?  Is “good enough” just not good enough anymore?  Dr. Terri Orbuch joins us on the show to talk about her book – 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great.

Terri is the project director of the NIH-funded Early Years of Marriage Project, the longest-running study of married couples ever conducted, which has been ongoing since 1986.  A practicing marriage and relationship therapist for more than 20 years, she is also a popular love advisor on radio, TV, and peoplemedia.com.  She’s a research professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, and a professor at Oakland University.

5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great is published by Random House, and is available on Amazon.com and at all the major booksellers. You can also find her online at DrTerriTheLoveDoctor.com.

Is your marriage no longer magical, but just plain miserable?  Does it feel like you’re trapped with no way of fixing things, to the point where you’re fantasizing about divorce, or worse?  Alisa Bowman returns to the show to discuss her upcoming book, Project: Happily Ever After – Saving Your Marriage When the Fairytale Falters, a personal account of her marriage at its worst and how she and her husband managed to put the pieces back together.

Alisa keeps up a blog at ProjectHappilyEverAfter.com, and has been featured on news shows and in publications across the country.  Her book, which comes out December 28, can be preordered from Amazon.com, and will be available after its release at all major booksellers.

Has your sex life with your spouse cooled down since you got married?  Are you not getting the same satisfaction that you used to, and do you feel like there’s nothing you can do about it?

Dr. Trina Read joins us to talk about her book, Till Sex Do Us Part: Making Your Married Sex Irresistible, which focuses on the transition couples go through from single sex to married sex, and tells you what you can do to keep things satisfying after you’ve tied the knot.

Trina is a sexologist with a successful coaching practice who’s written for a variety of publications in addition to writing her own books.  She’s given interviews and lectures both in North America and overseas. You can go to her website, TrinaRead.com, to learn more and to find plenty of resources, and to TillSexDoUsPart.com to order her book for yourself.

Do you feel like you can’t live up to what your spouse expects from you in the bedroom? Or do you feel you’re not getting everything you think you should get from your spouse?

Dr. Sara Rosenquist joins us to discuss how our culture’s emphasis on sex can give us unrealistic expectations and put a strain on relationships, and gives advice on how couples can find satisfaction with each other – even if they aren’t in a hyper-sexual Hollywood romance.

Sara is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Chapel Hill and Cary, NC, where she focuses on reproductive issues and sex therapy. You can find out more by visiting her website, DrSara.com, where she has some great articles and free resources available.

Has your sex life become so dissatisfying that you feel restless with your marriage, or even resentful of your spouse?

Marnia Robinson joins us to take a look at the science behind why steamy romance is destined to fade, what that means for the future of marriage, as well as to share some of her 31 tips for reengaging sexually with your spouse and using your biological instincts to rekindle passion.

Marnia is the author of Cupid’s Poisoned Arrow: From Habit to Harmony in Sexual Realationships, in which she challenges conventional approaches toward intimacy in relationships and examines the biological and neurological forces that shape our sexual desires. You can order the book from Amazon.com here, and find out more about Marnia and her research at her website, Reuniting.info

Sometimes, a lack of sex can be due to unresolved issues in the marriage, but often, It’s simply that we’ve become too caught up with daily life to change the status quo. Grab a pen, because Dr. Tina Lepage joins us to share seven (actually eight!) tips you can put to work right now to start having better sex more frequently with your spouse.

Tina is the founder of Lepage Associates, where she focuses on personal and professional relationship issues, as well as children and family therapy, and personal growth. You can find out more about Tina and her staff by visiting her website at LepageAssociates.com, or by calling her office at 919.572.0000

When first dealing with infidelity, the pain and shame can make recovery seem unlikely. Too many people see an affair as a death-sentence for a marriage, but Gary and Mona Shriver are proof that recovery and forgiveness are possible and worth the effort and have created a ministry dedicated to couples whose marriages have been shaken by infidelity.

You can find out a lot more about Gary and Mona Shriver and “Unfaithful, Hope & Healing after Infidelity”, along with information about Hope and Healing ministries at HopeAndHealing.us, which features a wealth of free audio and video resources for couples dealing with infidelity. You can also order a copy of Unfaithful: Hope and Healing After Infidelity at Amazon.com

Has a lack of sex become an indicator of bigger problems in your marriage? Is the stress of raising kids and working simply compounding the problem? Alisa Bowman joins us to discuss why it is so easy to write off a sexless marriage as finished, why we lose desire in the first place, and what you can do to both desire, and be desired by your spouse.

Alisa is an accomplished and respected author and blogger responsible for numerous health and wellbeing best sellers. She currently blogs about marriage at ProjectHappilyEverAfter.com, where you can sign up for email updates, or browse by categories like conflict, sex, happiness, and kids.

Affairs or even the suspicion of an affair can drive a huge wedge into a couple’s marriage.  Author Peggy Vaughan joins us in studio to discuss her own experience with her husband’s affair as well as discussing how a married couple can get past the affair on their way to continuing a happy and fulfilling marriage.

Peggy is one of the country’s leading experts on the subject of affairs.  She’s appeared on television shows, in multiple magazines and newspapers, and has written numerous books on affairs and infidelity.  You can find out more about Peggy by visiting her website at DearPeggy.com.  You can also buy her book The Monogamy Myth: A Personal Handbook for Recovering from Affairs at Amazon.com.

Has physical intimacy taken a back seat to other responsibilities in your marriage?  Have you tried rekindling the spark you and your spouse had when you were first married with little success? Terry Northcutt, Director of Marriage Enrichment Programs with the Family Dynamics Institute,  joins us to discuss how to strengthen that intimate bond and bring passion back to your marriage.  He also discusses the programs and seminars available that are designed to help married couples renew their intimacy.

Terry is a former senior pastor who now serves as the Director of Marriage Enrichment Programs  at the Family Dynamics Institute.    You can find out more about the Family Dynamics Institute and the multitude of courses and workshops they offer by calling 800-650-9995, or visiting FamilyDynamics.net and SaveMyMarriage.com.

What used to require a secret trip to a shady newsstand and the risk of being spotted by a friend or neighbor is now just keyclicks away. With pornography becoming easier to obtain and less of a social stigma, has its presence become a stumbling-block in your relationship? Dr. Nicole Imbraguglio joins us to discuss the patterns and effects of pornography use in a marriage and the impact it has on both spouses, as well as how a couple can reconcile their feelings and behavior with one another.

Dr. Imbraguglio practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and helps both adults and children with a wide range of emotional issues. She has provided counseling for individuals, groups, couples, and families. You can learn more about Nicole at LepageAssociates.com.

Is your bedroom so cluttered or so spartan that relaxation and romance are simply impossible? Most of us are guilty of either filling up the bedroom with junk that won’t fit anywhere else, or treating it like a cold and sterile museum. Jenna Boyd joins us to cover common mistakes in bedroom organization and to share tips and simple changes you can make today to turn your bedroom into a stress-free haven for intimacy and romance.

Jenna is a certified practitioner of Feng Shui, a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, and contributor to PINK Magazine. You can find out more about Jenna at ElementsOfHarmony.com or by calling her office at 919.757.2732

Every marriage faces issues where one or both partners feel frustrated with the level of intimacy in the relationship, but these incompatibility problems can create bigger difficulties when spouses feel like they can’t bring up the topic with their partners. Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn joins us to discuss how you can bring up issues of sexual incompatibility with your spouse without creating a sense of pressure or rejection from either partner.

Katrina holds a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and has been practicing for over 9 years. Katrina practices with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC and can be reached at 919.572.0000, or by visiting LepageAssociates.com

Can a weekend getaway really help your marriage? Does counseling with other couples have benefits over a more traditional approach? Richard and Diana Daffner join us to discuss their “Intimacy Retreats”, where couples take a weekend to focus exclusively on the intimate bond with each other and cover the key differences between traditional therapy and marriage retreats, including the benefits a group dynamic has over private sessions, the kind of interaction couples have with each other, and whether some couples find group therapy easier than conventional practice.

You can find out much more about Richard and Diana’s intimacy retreats on their website, IntimacyRetreats.com, or by calling them at 1.877.282.4244. The website also includes a schedule of upcoming retreats from November through February, as well as information on Richard and Diana’s upcoming book, Tantric Sex for Busy Couples.

It’s always better to stop a problem before it begins than trying to fix it after the fact.  Dr. Betty Phillips joins us to discuss some of the underlying causes of marital infidelity and why problems couples have that may seem trivial or unrelated to the relationship can lead to affairs.  Dr. Phillips also takes time to discuss some of the common indicators that a marriage needs more attention to ensure that infidelity does not become a reality.

Dr. Phillips holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Harvard University and is certified by the National Register of Psychologists. She specializes in relationship and marriage counseling, including helping couples deal with the challenge of recovering from infidelity. Her office is located at 466 Eagle Point Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312. You can find out more about Dr. Phillips practice, as well as other articles she has written on her website, or by contacting her at (919) 967.1860

Author and researcher Maggie Scarf joins us to discuss her latest book, September Songs: The Good News About Marriage in the Later Years.  In the book, Maggie examines the “Bonus Years”, or 20+ years after 50 that increased life expectancy has created in the past few generations, and takes a look at how marital satisfaction increases during this phase.

Maggie covers communication, sex, problem solving, and financial issues that affect this stage of life and why it often doesn’t get the coverage it deserves, as well as what she describes as the “U-shaped curve” of marital happiness.

September Songs is out now on Riverhead Books.  You can click here to order it from Amazon.com, or visit Maggie’s website for more information, as well as her blog and other articles.

Worried that your spouse cannot satisfy you intimately? In this episode Dr. Debbie Neel returns (her previous visit can be found here) to discuss the differences of emotional intimacy and sexual intimacy, saying that integrating them allows for a strong, satisfied marriage. Emotional intimacy is the understanding, appreciation, and acceptance between mates: the ‘I love you unconditionally.’ Sexual intimacy is the physical openness, communication, and comfort of love and affection also requiring unconditional acceptance. Dr. Neel notes the differences in mental wiring of men and women, how their thoughts and expectations differ, showing that husbands and wives are not intentionally neglecting each other and argues that couples should understand they will change physically and emotionally and that good communication can help avoid a breakdown of intimacy.

Debbie Neel is a licenced psychologist, certified health services provider and certified sex therapist with a private practice in Raleigh North Carolina. She specializes in individual adult and couples therapy, sex therapy, and attention deficit disorder in adults. To find out more about Debbie and her practice, visit her website at http://www.atriumpsychology.com, or call her at (919) 781-8810.

“Hump: True Tales of Sex After Kids” takes a look at restoring the intimate bond between spouses after the changes in life that take place once children enter the picture. Author Kimberly Ford discusses the book and what prompted her to write it, as well as what she learned in the process. The book explores the importance of physical intimacy in making a couple feel like spouses and adults – not just parents. “Hump” is available July 8th on St. Martin’s Press.

Kimberly lives in California with her husband and three children. She received her Ph.D. in Spanish and French Literature in 2001 and since then has published short fiction and essays in magazines including Mothering, The Believer, and Brain, Child. You can find out more about Kimberly and her other work at kimberlyvford.com. To find out more about “Hump”, please visit humpthebook.com, where you can share your stories as well.

Click here to pre-order the book from Amazon.com.

Do changes in desire for your spouse mean that you are no longer in love? Debbie Neel, PhD. discusses how intimacy and desire mature over the course of a marriage and how to understand and enjoy a deeper relationship with your spouse. Physiological and hormonal changes that occur throughout a marriage may often send the wrong signal about loving one’s spouse, as does the waning sense of intimacy that can come from dealing with the mountain of day-to-day tasks that are pushed aside during the initial romance of a marriage.

Debbie Neel is a licenced psychologist, certified health services provider and certified sex therapist with a private practice in Raleigh North Carolina. She specializes in individual adult and couples therapy, sex therapy, and attention deficit disorder in adults. To find out more about Debbie and her practice, visit her website at http://www.atriumpsychology.com, or call her at (919) 781-8810.