marriage advice

How to re-ignite the sparks of the honeymoon phase

Re-ignite the sparks We all know that feeling: the butterflies in your stomach when you first meet someone special.  We remember the overwhelming joy of spending time with them and being completely head over heels. You tell all your friends that you’ve found the one. You optimistically start to covertly plan your life together, all […]

Talking about each other in public

Talking About Each Other in Public As couples, we learn communication skills – how to talk with each other effectively. But have you considered how to talk about each other in public when the other isn’t present? “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their […]

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. […]

Ideas to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Introduction It’s that time of year – Valentine’s Day! Stumped for how to make it special? Here are 30 simple ideas to get your creative thoughts and ideas flowing. Plan a romantic dinner at home or at a nice restaurant. Write a heartfelt love letter or create a heartfelt video message. Plan a surprise weekend […]

Don’t Lose Your Self in Your Relationship

You’re afraid you’ll lose your self in your relationship. Today is Independence Day for the United States. It occurred to me that independence has played a role in Greg’s and my marriage as well – and not for the better. Let’s take a look at independence vs interdependence in relationships. Independence I know something about […]

5 Promises of Radical Commitment

https://courses.closecompanions.org/courses/the-promises-we-make“When we make a promise, we steal some of the uncertainty from our unknown tomorrows.”                                       Greg Hunt, PhD   Introduction We make promises to each other to express our commitment. Throughout our relationship we’ve made and kept […]

My Commitment: I Promise to Choose You First

by David Steele I promise to choose you first. . . what does that commitment mean? With all of the distractions, obligations, and personal pursuits in life, it can seem difficult to prioritize your partner. In fact, some believe it is downright impossible. Huh? So, how can I possibly choose my partner first? What about […]

Two are better than one when it comes to managing stress

Greg and Priscilla Hunt, Relationship Specialists, share with each other what’s helpful  and what’s not helpful when they’re experiencing stress. Let the video  (6:51) inspire you to have your own conversation. Download a free worksheet for your own conversation.

The Tug-of-war of Our Differences

Priscilla Hunt, CRCC We want to be on the same page. Our desire is to work together and function as a team. But our differences keep us stuck. So we’re in a constant tug-of-war over the simplest decision about what to do with a free Saturday. To illustrate, he wants to go out to a […]