tips

Can you say no to your spouse?

The term “no” may be universal in almost every language, but the decision of saying no can sometimes prove to be more difficult than it may seem. It is hard to say no to your boss when they give you a large project with an unrealistic timeline. It is also hard to say no to your young children when they pout and put on their sad little puppy eyes. It is hard to say no to your mother who needs help with something that she can’t do by herself. And it is hard to say no to your spouse on something that you don’t agree with when you don’t want to make your loved one upset. What can we do to make saying no a little easier? How do we make boundaries with our loved ones without rocking the boat?

Earning her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Ricki Geiger is founder and owner of Rickie L. Geiger, LCSW in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Ricki is a licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Group Psychotherapist and Certified Retirement Coach. She has over 30 years of professional experience. She provides individuals, couples, and group therapy for adults over 21 years of age. Ricki is a seasoned, engaging and skilled community educator and workshop presenter.

To find out more about Ricki Geiger and her practice, Ricki L. Geiger, LCSW, you can visit their website or call (919) 929-8559 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.

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.