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Betrayal recovery is tricky business. Just when you believe you’ve made progress, something trips you. It could be small or large—doesn’t matter. You find […]

What kind of love keeps you married for 70 years? In a world of quick exits, I’ve observed three couples married for at least […]

They slid into the booth in my direct sight. He eased her coat from her thin shoulders while she gave him a Duchenne smile […]

Nine months or so into our recovery from betrayal trauma and depression, the process felt muddy. Never-ending. The hope from the beginning dimmed. We […]

You and I have explored many topics about getting through the initial betrayal discovery and crisis. When you’re in those first moments where you […]

Benjamin Franklin quipped: “Watch the little things; a small leak will sink a great ship.” As Dave and I worked through the betrayal trauma […]

It's Christmas week! Merry Christmas. When Heaven Sang Let's look at one final group in the Christmas story—the chorus of angels. We know they […]

In 2020, while our world suffered a global pandemic, one storyteller released The Wonder Switch, a book that dared you to flip your wonder […]

Mom made Christmas magical with beautiful decorations, welcoming aromas, and plenty of candlelight. She seemed to navigate the Christmas season with ease and grace. […]

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Cheery faces surrounded by sparkling lights. Somehow, people find a new level of kindness this time of year. […]

Why won’t he change? Betrayal recovery is hard enough. But when your partner seems disinterested in leaving behind destructive behaviors like watching porn, you […]

This Thanksgiving, as you prepare, travel, enjoy delicious foods, laugh, cry, please find time to nurture your soul with gratitude. Even if you are […]

In Chicago, the news is buzzing with special holiday trains getting ready to leave various stations. This annual event invites people to ride with […]

Recently, a few people asked me a fantastic question. “Why did you stay?” My answer is quite simple. I didn’t want to be another […]

During some recent training on brain neuroscience and understanding the wounded heart, Dr. Marcus Warner taught about the “way to grow joy.” I couldn’t […]

Voices echoed. The wait staff scurried with their chores. The staff opened the windows because of the oppressive desert heat, attempting to catch any […]

We called my sister the “heart freak.”  Born the day before Valentine’s Day and on our grandfather’s birthday, she collected heart-related things and loved […]

Zara wondered what Zeke wanted. It had been years since they’d talked. After Zeke and Char’s wedding, they’d moved to the next town. Neither […]

In a world that often pressures us to present a perfect façade, the power of sharing personal stories—especially those of struggle and recovery—can't be […]

Imagine you and me sitting together over coffee, chatting about the messy, painful reality of betrayal trauma. Facing the aftermath of discovering your partner's […]

Have you ever had an internal imaginary argument with someone? Maybe it was after a highly emotional confrontation. Perhaps it was with your boss […]

What if he never stops looking at porn? A haunting question. One that causes soul anguish for the wife whose husband struggles with porn. […]

A sense of betrayal—one of the devastating aftershocks of discovering your husband’s porn struggle. These questions dig deep gouges in your mind. How can […]

Belle sat stunned. “Belle, you have to believe me. I promise it’ll never happen again! You’ve got to believe me. Please. Belle?” She couldn’t […]

Why do well-written sitcoms make us laugh? Shows like Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Home Improvement exaggerate real-life stories. Kaylee Gadepalli, in her March […]

Can you ever feel safe again? When you discover your partner’s struggle with porn, you lose your sense of security. Part of that damage […]

Janet* sobbed. Overwhelmed by fear, pain, remorse, and inadequacy, she choked on her next words, “What’s wrong with me?” For the next several moments, […]

When your heart hurts, you’ll do almost anything to stop the pain so you may not recognize a few hazards. The first time I […]

In the previous blog, we defined and discussed empathy and emotional attunement. Check it out here. If you struggle with empathy and emotional attunement, […]

I have a confession to make. As a human, I’m not always empathetic or emotionally attuned to others. 😢😳 Identifying with the emotions of […]

So many questions bombard the wife of a man struggling with porn’s grip on his mind, body, and soul. How do you find the […]

When was the last time you whispered something in another person’s ear that you didn’t want anyone else to hear? Secrets. We all have […]

Relationships impact your life and work. When I first started in the business world, I felt obligated to keep my work and personal life […]

How do you cope when life interrupts your carefully made plans? Last fall, God brought a shake-up to our lives. Another one. And let […]

Who wants to admit their life is a mess? Discovering weaknesses in yourself never feels good. I stood at the door, overwhelmed by boxes, […]