understanding

Is your spouse’s eating disorder affecting your marriage?

As a society we are growing more aware of mental illness and the effects it can have on an individual and their loved ones. We now observe National Mental Health Awareness Month in May each year to recognize and bring awareness about mental health disorders and the effects it has on the people suffering with a disorder. Mental Health Awareness Month acknowledges disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder among many others. Now that we are aware of what mental health disorders are and how they affect an individual, we now have to discover just how the disorder can affect those people close to the individual suffering. Eating Disorder is among those disorders recognized in the National Mental Health Awareness Month. How can having an eating disorder affect a marriage?

Earning her Masters in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from the Phillips Graduate Institute, Ms. Deborah Klinger is founder of Deborah Klinger M.A., LMFT, PC in Durham, North Carolina. Ms. Klinger helps individuals, couples and families dealing with a variety of issues. She has extensive experience in the field of eating disorders and has been certified as an Eating Disorders Specialist through the Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. Ms. Klinger is published in “Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention.”

To find out more about Ms. Deborah Klinger and her practice, Deborah L Klinger, M.A., LMFT, PC, you can visit their website or call 919-990-1143 for an appointment.

Are you and your spouse in tune with your true selves?

Our twenties is the time for identifying who we are and what we want to do with the rest of our lives. We go to school to get our degrees and discover careers options that maximizes our talents and skills all the while finding that certain someone to start a family and share our future with. We start to grow older as a unit as the years go by. We settle into life-long careers while the children take piano lessons and play sports for school. But, what happens when you haven’t discovered who you truly were before getting married and starting your family? Eventually you will have to find yourself and it can be a messy journey. How do you go about finding yourself? How does not knowing who you truly are affect your loved ones?

Earning her Masters Degree in Human Development and Marriage and Family Therapy from Auburn University, Mrs. Carmella Whitehead is founder of Whitehead Counseling Services in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mrs. Whitehead has provided individual, couples and family counseling for eight years. She is particularly skilled in mind-body therapy, finding self-worth and reconnecting to your true self. Mrs. Whitehead’s work is characterized by intuition, compassion, optimism and collaboration.

To find out more about Mrs. Carmella Whitehead and her practice, Whitehead Counseling Services, you can visit their website at  or call (646) 530-0993 for an appointment.

Does your relationship have what it takes to deal with a medical illness?

Relationships can be tricky; they require communication, honesty, and love to keep it alive and healthy. You recognize what each other need and want out of the relationship and out of each other. You begin to share life lessons with one another. You learn to provide emotional support, validation, and compliments. You start sharing goals and dreams that resonate with both of you. You discover the value of compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness. But, what happens when the relationship you’ve worked so hard to keep healthy is threatened by a medical illness and it’s consequences?

Earning his doctorate in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University, Dr. Dan Marlowe is the Director of Behavioral Health for Campbell University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine where he is in charge of the psychosocial health of the medical and graduate student body. Dr. Marlowe’s studies focused on the integration of mental and behavioral health in medical settings, as well as the treatment of families and couples dealing with acute and chronic illness. His doctoral residency was spend at Duke Cancer Institute’s Cancer Patient Support program where he helped launch their research program as well as helped to expand their collaborative care program the provides counseling services to patients and their families at no cost. Dr. Marlowe is the president-elect for the North Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

To find out more about Dr. Marlowe and his practice, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, you can call (910) 893-1560 for an appointment.