by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
“If we would only listen with the same passion that we feel about needing to be heard.” I am going to ask you to read Dr. Harriet Lerner’s powerful quote twice and let it sink in. To really sink in. Dr. Harriet Lerner is one of the most respected clinicians in the...
by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
Connection in Marriage One of the biggest concerns I hear from married couples is a lack of connection. Couples feel they have grown apart and it has created a distance in their marriage so large that they do not know what to do. In many marriages the distance has...
by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
In my house, my family and I try to communicate as effectively as possible and avoid miscommunicating. We are successful, most of the time. Even the best communicators can fall into some common pitfalls of miscommunication. Unfortunately, conversations sometimes...
by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
What do basketball and marriage have in common? Basketball is a team sport and so is marriage. Both basketball and marriage do not work well if there is a “ball hog.”Work together; share the work load and the spotlight. With basketball, some athletes have natural...
by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
If you are looking for a relationship game changer, then learn how to properly apologize. Do spouses need to apologize to each other when they hurt their spouse’s feelings and/or do something wrong? Yes!! I have noticed in my personal and professional life that many...
by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
Some people think that loving marriages just happen. Happily married couples would tell you that it takes, respect, patience, empathy and lots of nurturing. It also takes making your spouse feel special, important, noticed, and your number one priority. One of the...
by Michelle Scharlop | Relationship
December is a month of celebrations with lights, decorations, presents and cheer! Christmas, Hanukkah, the holidays are almost here and let’s be proactive to avoid conflict, unmet expectations and disappointment. Around this time of year, many couples have holiday...
by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
Why are some couples thriving in their marriage and some barely surviving? The answer could be in figuring out if the couple is a “marriage master” or a “marriage disaster” as described by Dr. John Gottman, world-renowned therapist who developed the Gottman Method...
by Michelle Scharlop | Marriage
There is a famous line that most of us remember from the Wizard of Oz. It is “lions, tigers and bears, oh my”. This line is expressing the upcoming potential dangers on the journey to see the wizard. I relate it to a newer saying, “Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, oh...
by Michelle Scharlop | Relationship
Remember when you were dating? Was there a playfulness, feeling of excitement and desire that naturally happened? Are you wondering where the playfulness, desire, excitement went in your marriage? Try recreating the feeling, try flirting. Flirting is a key element in...