Sometimes people need to hear that their spouse is not the enemy in order to reorient them to cooperation instead of conflict - particularly when what you truly have are two with the capacity for relational health who simply don’t have the skills to achieve peace but can learn them. But sometimes that’s not what you have. Sometimes you have a spouse who can’t (or won’t) work together with you no matter how hard people-helpers get them to try. What do you do then?

Let’s look at 11 character traits that may appear positive - or even bold - but that actually reveal what you’re secretly afraid of. Identifying why we are the way we are is a necessary step to overcoming fears in order for us to change the dynamics of our unhealthy relationships.

Understanding God’s boundaries can transform the way we live, relate to others, and extend grace without losing ourselves.

Vulnerability in marriage can lead to intimacy and unity as you hear each others’ perspectives and get to know and understand each other better. But what if vulnerability is supposed to make things better, but it doesn’t? What if it doesn’t feel mutual or creates more conflict the more you try to communicate? There’s a reason for that. And a solution.

If you feel like you just can’t take any more – any more tension in your marriage, any more disrespect from your spouse, any more disengagement or indifference in the relationship, any more criticism, any more lack of effort – you might be wondering whether your marriage is going to last. But before you move forward with separation or divorce, check yourself to be sure that you’ve made every effort to navigate the challenges of your relationship in a healthy way.

When you live with someone whose addictive behavior doesn’t seem to get in the way all of the time, it’s easy to overlook the impact that their addiction may be having on the relationship. While it might seem tolerable to you, it could be affecting the relationship much more than you realize.

When people ask the question “how long should I wait for my spouse to change?” it really encompasses a few questions. Let’s explore what you’re really asking and get the answer to “how long should I wait?” and “how long should I hold onto hope?”

A common scenario in relationships is that, after a conflict or offense, one person wants to just move on as though nothing happened while the other feels there’s been no resolution. Is forgiveness enough? Is more required for repair and reconciliation? What would that even look like? These are the 5 steps to reconciliation.

Do you find yourself exasperated by your spouse’s words or behavior? Does your child’s behavior frustrate you? Do you have a sibling or friend who always seems to need help? Are you still trying to earn the respect or love of a parent? Discover what to do when someone's sin affects you - and what happens if you don’t do enough.

I’m stepping on some big toes here, but hear me out. Attachment-based Therapy has a major flaw. Whether you have anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, or disorganized attachment, you’re not going to get to secure attachment without this one key factor.

There is a lot of pressure in marriages on men to be the leader and on women to be submissive to their husband’s authority. Both wives and husbands can struggle with what this really should look like and it can lead to pointing fingers toward who isn’t doing their job well enough. Let’s take the pressure off and help everyone live up to the way God designed them.

Have you wondered how your marriage to someone with narcissistic traits is going to work out? What did God do with narcissists in the Bible? Find out how God uses the difficult people in our lives to show us how rich his love for us is.

So often I hear people say that they are seeing changes in their spouse. Slow down. Not so fast. When you think that someone is changing, here are some things to watch for.

Living with a narcissist involves a lot of trauma and drama. But it doesn’t have to. Here is one woman’s story of how she learned to live with a narcissist.

I get this question a lot: My child’s other parent is a narcissist, and I’m starting to see some of that parent’s traits in my child - how can I help my child avoid becoming a narcissist? The answer is surprisingly simple. Let's take a look.

Find encouragement through these difficult times with this beautiful, heartfelt devotion to God based on Ecclesiastes chapter 3.

Need help with your anxiety symptoms? This article has some tips, but it also gets to the deeper problems that, if solved, can provide a permanent remedy for anxiety.

The Bible says “honor your father and mother” - but what if they aren’t honorable? What if they don’t deserve it? Is there an exception to that command? And, if not, how do you honor someone who isn’t honorable? And how do you teach your children to do the same?

What if the communication problem in your relationship isn’t really a problem with communication at all? Find out whether the problem lies much deeper, and get 6 tips on how to communicate in your situation.

A rebellious child and a strenuous marriage can both be linked to the same underlying problem. Get an understanding of what’s at the root of the problem and discover how boundaries and healthy relationships affect the success of your parenting and your marriage.