Dr. Jackie Black

Couple-time Together

Adapted from an article by Dr. Jackie Black, faculty member of the Close Companions Online Relationship Academy Couple-time Together Couple-time together. . . sounds good, doesn’t it? If you are in the majority of contemporary, committed couples, you probably spend more time watching television than you do spending yummy, alone-time with your partner. Questions to consider 1. […]

The 3 Mistakes Couples Make That ALWAYS Result in Mis-Communication

from CoupleGuideTM to Communicating with Confidence by Dr. Jackie Black Many conversations with our partners are emotionally charged. Be careful of these three common mistakes: The most prevalent mistake is that one or both partners comes to the conversation believing that his or her needs won’t be heard, respected, understood, validated or met. One partner […]

One Shot at Love

by Dr. Jackie Black Faculty member, Online Relationship Academy   What if you have one shot at creating the best relationship ever… The fact of the matter is that everyone would be much better off if we actually believed that we only had one shot to build the relationship of our dreams. Too many smart, […]

Valentine’s Day is Your Green Light to Make Each Other Special

by Dr. Jackie Black Faculty member, Online Relationship Academy It’s Valentine’s again!  Have you ever stopped to consider where the most romantic places on Earth are? They are inside you! They are in your imagination; and your heart; and your body; and your spirit!  Now is the time for you and your Sweetheart to put […]

Love is Like Money—Are You Investing? 

by Dr. Jackie Black Faculty member, Online Relationship Academy   Relationships are like bank accounts. If you keep pulling money out without making deposits, you will go bankrupt. What does the balance sheet of your love-life look like? You know, relationships are living breathing entities. Our investment of deliberate intention, and focused time, energy and […]

Wake Up! Its Almost Valentine’s Day, Again!  

by Dr. Jackie Black Faculty member, Online Relationship Academy It’s Valentine’s Day again!  Let Valentine’s Day this year be the bell of awareness ringing in your ear, reminding you to carve out the time to connect with the one who stole your heart.  Retailers and Madison Avenue would like us to all rush out and […]

How Do You Set Boundaries?

by Dr. Jackie Black Part 4 of a 4-part series on boundaries in relationships   Let me say first, setting boundaries is not disrespectful, bad or wrong. In fact, emotionally healthy people set personal boundaries. Educate people in your life about your boundaries. Calmly and respectfully inform them about how they can and cannot behave […]

Why Are Boundaries Important?

by Dr. Jackie Black Part 3 in a 4-part series on boundaries in relationships   If your life is filled with discord and you don’t feel that others respect you, it’s time to set your boundaries. You experience your reality in four ways: Body – what you look like; Thinking – how you give meaning […]

What Are Boundaries and How Do They Work?

by Dr. Jackie Black Part 2 in a 4-part series on boundaries in relationships   If your life is filled with more of what you don’t want and not enough of what you do want, it’s time to set your boundaries. Boundaries define your sense of self (who you are as an individual). Setting boundaries […]

Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say

by Dr. Jackie Black Part 1 in a 4-part series on boundaries in relationships   Most of us know how to speak. Many of us have never learned how to communicate. Recognize that clear, accurate and understandable verbal and non-verbal language is essential for marriage, committed relationships, friendships, business relationships and virtually all other kinds […]