Engage Renew Therapy

04/21/2026

Such a timely topic and I’m grateful there are resources to help.

As Iranian families in the US navigate emotional turmoil and mental health challenges, take time to prepare for client support. Read Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour’s “Muslim Families and Family Therapy” in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
https://ow.ly/5o3b50YK3C0

04/21/2026

I’m no stranger to tears in my work with couples. They’re often misread or shut down, but tears are a biological hack that signal that we need care, closeness, or understanding. When genuine, others pick up on the pheromones, which is especially interesting to me: the idea that tears carry a kind of chemical message beneath the surface, a quieter layer of communication happening without words.

In the room, a small shift can make a big difference. When tears are met with curiosity instead of discomfort, the conversation tends to go somewhere new. This article offers a thoughtful lens on that process if you’re curious to read more:

Research suggests that crying is not a sign of weakness, but one of the most sophisticated social technologies in the natural world.

04/18/2026

Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to do.

Naming the fear of losing a relationship takes more courage than almost any other conversation because the act of naming it makes it more real. It is also the only version of the conversation that can actually address what is happening.

Save this for the next time you need it.

04/14/2026

Age gaps, timing, and life stages often come up as relationship concerns, but they are rarely the whole story.

What matters more is how couples navigate differences, communicate needs, and build a shared understanding over time.

There is rarely one factor that determines success. Patterns over time tend to matter more.

This article explores some of those questions:

As Netflix's latest dating show 'Age of Attraction' explores whether age really matters in relationships, relationship experts weigh in on the realities of age gap partnerships. They discuss the unique challenges these couples may face, such as power imbalances, generational differences, and diverge...

04/10/2026

One of the things I see most often with couples is a lack of shared clarity.

Not because they haven’t talked, but because they haven’t slowed down enough to really understand what each person needs, what matters most, or what direction they’re actually moving in together.

Without that clarity, it’s easy to keep having the same conversations without resolution.

This article speaks to that idea:

A few weeks ago, I found myself standing in a room full of college students talking about relationships. Some were engaged. Some were dating someone seriously. A few were still figuring out what they wanted.

04/08/2026

Great goal for this month!

April, but lets make it more connected.
We’re leaving behind the habits that pull us away from each other and choosing small, intentional moments that actually bring us closer.
Now to the part you’re here for, how do we do that?
Well, we made something to help you do it.
This month’s Love Notes is a 30-day digital reset challenge designed to help you move from distraction to connection. We’ll send you one small prompt each day. Simple, realistic, and easy to stick with (we're talking low effort).
If you’re ready for more of the INS and less of the OUTS, this is for you.
Get the 30-day reset here 💙 https://bit.ly/4g0CwVT

04/07/2026

“Communication” is something couples are often told to work on, but rarely shown how.

Most couples I work with aren’t struggling because they don’t talk. They’re struggling because conversations quickly turn into defensiveness, misunderstanding, or attempts to fix instead of understand. The difference isn’t just in what’s said, but in how each partner experiences the conversation.

This article touches on some of those patterns:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/fitness/shaping-relationships-through-communication/ar-AA1O24p3?apiversion=v2&domshim=1&noservercache=1&noservertelemetry=1&batchservertelemetry=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1

The shift toward curiosity over reaction is often where things begin to change.

Communication is key in marriage, and it’s important to make sure it’s a healthy part of your relationship. Psychotherapist Sharon Lawrence, Author of “7 Simple Ways to Shape Your Marriage” talks communication. Learn more at https://www.myselahwellness.com/

04/05/2026

There’s something about this time of year that naturally brings up the idea of renewal. Not in a big, dramatic way—but in the quieter sense of pausing, reflecting, and asking:

What do I want to carry forward, and what might be ready to shift?

In relationships, that can look like letting go of patterns that no longer serve you, or approaching each other with a little more curiosity, patience, or openness than before.

Change doesn’t usually happen all at once. It happens in small moments... how we respond, how we listen, how we repair.

Sometimes a relationship doesn’t need a complete overhaul. It just needs space for something new to grow.

04/03/2026

This is a dynamic I see often in couples' work, and it’s frequently misunderstood.

When ADHD is part of a relationship, it’s not just about attention or forgetfulness. It can affect communication, follow-through, emotional regulation, and how partners experience one another over time.

What often begins as frustration on one side and overwhelm on the other can gradually turn into patterns that feel personal, even when they’re not intended that way.

Understanding what’s happening beneath the surface is often the first step toward shifting it. This article highlights some of those dynamics:

ADHD adults and partners can manage ADHD in their love life! Paying attention, affairs, job loss, nagging, being on time, criticism, chores, organization, love? We cover that!

04/01/2026

So beautifully explained how to work with ourselves to then be able to share effectively with our partner. Worth the watch.

04/01/2026

Recently I shared Julie Gottman’s reminder that an apology without a plan for change is unlikely to lead to real repair. But there’s another layer to this.

For many people, the barrier isn’t just knowing how to apologize—it’s feeling safe enough to see themselves clearly in the first place.

Real accountability requires a relational container where both partners can tolerate discomfort without fear of shame, attack, or collapse. Without that safety, even well-intentioned people will defend instead of reflect.

My work builds that kind of space—where insight and repair can actually take root.

04/01/2026

I couldn’t agree more… empty apologies are meaningless and often don’t lead to real change.