Relationships and Marriage

Remarried couples are different from first-marriage couples in that they bring different experiences to the marriage. These experiences can lead to unique difficulties. In this publication, we describe the characteristics of a successful remarriage and encourage communication and commitment.

Committing to look for the positive in the relationship can have a strong impact on the strength of a couple’s marriage and their levels of satisfaction. In this publication, we encourage couples to commit to having a positive point of view, to look for and built upon the positive things in their lives, share in and talk about positive events, and to be positive and encouraging toward their partner.

Anger is an emotion that everyone feels from time to time, but mismanaging this emotion can lead to hurt and difficulty in the marriage. In this publication, we describe some ways that anger is not handled well, and how to better manage and express anger so that the problem can be resolved without damage to the marriage.

Setting goals in a marriage can lead to expectations being met for both partners and for more marital satisfaction. In this publication, we describe the importance of setting goals and give some suggestions on how to set, evaluate, and reach them.

When the last child leaves home, many couples experience difficulties to this new life adjustment. In this publication, we offer suggestions on how to identify and describe these problems as a couple and move into the “second half” of marriage.

Taking the time to really get to know your partner can help build a strong relational foundation so that when significant life changes occur, the marriage can continue to stay strong. In this publication, we explain the importance of knowing your partner well and steps you can take to get to know each other better.

Communicating about the sexual relationship can be very difficult for some couples. In this publication, we describe the importance of communication about sex, how sex is viewed differently, and offer some tips on how to communicate about the sexual relationship.

During partner communication, listening to learn, rather than listening to reject, is an important communication skill. In this publication, we explain the difference between listening to learn and listening to reject and explain how listening to learn can lead to better communication and understanding between partners.