Cornerstone Family Services

12/31/2025

Let’s say you get great news, and you can’t wait to tell someone. Can you share it with family, friends, or coworkers first? Or should you wait to tell your spouse?

It can be tempting to let the big news slip before you get home. But when you share your excitement with everyone else first, that puts a damper on the moment you’ll share with your spouse later. You might not realize it, but you’re giving up important memories you could be making in your marriage.

Let’s say you get great news, and you can’t wait to tell someone. Can you share it with family, friends, or coworkers first? Or should you wait to tell your spouse? It can be tempting to let the big news slip before you get home. But when you share your excitement with everyone else first, that ...

12/30/2025

A recent analysis published in Clinical Psychological Science reveals that trigger warnings can actually increase anxiety before someone even sees the content. Despite that added worry, people are just as likely to view the material and feel just as distressed afterward, whether they received a warning or not.

Trigger warnings may do more harm than good—raising anxiety without protecting viewers from distress.

12/29/2025

Has your spouse been distant from you lately? Wondering how to reconnect and reignite the spark? It’s normal to experience seasons of disconnection in marriage. But it’s also important to intentionally reconnect when you notice the drift.

For some individuals, great conversations are the key to intimacy. For others, it’s more about physical connection. Let’s look at a few ways you can reignite the spark in your relationship in each scenario.

Has your spouse been distant from you lately? Wondering how to reconnect and reignite the spark? It’s normal to experience seasons of disconnection in marriage. But it’s also important to intentionally reconnect when you notice the drift. For some individuals, great conversations are the key to ...

12/26/2025

12/24/2025

’Tis the season for leaning into gratitude and letting generosity lead the way. If you’re wondering how you and your spouse can give back together this year, look no further. Here are 5 ways to strengthen your bond in a fulfilling way.

Wondering how you and your spouse can give back together this year? Here are 5 ways to strengthen your bond in a fulfilling way.

12/23/2025

Dr. Dave and Dr. Liz talk with Dr. John Van Epp who brings to light some of the most important things we can do when selecting a life partner as well as how to strengthen those relationships over time. We learn some of the predictors of how long-term relationships will turn out as well as some principles to help navigate both red and green flags within our relationships.

On today’s episode, Dr. Dave and Dr. Liz talk with Dr. John Van Epp who brings to light some of the most important things we can do when selecting a life par...

12/22/2025

It’s been 25 years since our first holiday season as a blended family, but I remember the tension and heartache well. Blending four young children, managing a harried schedule that included two ex-spouses, competing with the other households for time together and gift exchange, and coping with emotions on overdrive ignited a simmering blaze that burned throughout the season and left behind a trail of hurt feelings and unmet expectations.

I learned some valuable lessons that season on how to negotiate with others and compromise on details that didn’t have to go my way. I resolved to take proactive steps the next time around to help relieve some of the turmoil and division. And I committed to create lasting memories and enjoy time together as a family instead of simply survive the season.

If you’re aiming for a peaceful stepfamily holiday, here are a few suggestions.

It’s likely your holiday season will include tense moments. Don’t fret. Holidays can be joyous and memorable even if they’re not perfect.

12/17/2025

Holiday meals are some of the worst times to hash out drama or have deep discussions about sensitive topics. Yet family feasts seem to inevitably include a side of political rants, gross medical stories, inappropriate jokes, or the rehashing of family drama.

Every year we convince ourselves it’ll be different, that somehow our celebratory meal will be full of joy, peace, and normal conversation. How do things go so horribly wrong? Could we all truly get along—even if only for 30 minutes of face-stuffing glory?

Award conversations gravitate to our holiday tables year after year. But could we all truly get along, even for 30 minutes of face-stuffing glory?

12/16/2025

Just as ultra-processed foods can be bad for our physical health, when we overprocess experiences, we artificially prolong their lives with unnatural ingredients that alter the DNA of the original experience, encounter, or event. This causes us harm.

Overprocessing, venting, and rumination can be hazardous to our health. Here are five ways we can be healthier processors.