This element of secure functioning can be a bit provocative at first. “You expect me to put my relationship first?? Even above my family? My children?? My job?” Simply put, yes. Putting the relationship first doesn’t mean foregoing all other priorities, but it does mean that for both partners to feel truly stable, they must know—and more importantly, feel—that their partner prioritizes caring for their relationship above other tasks (including substances, hobbies, and, for many of us, those pesky iPhones).

Research shows that individuals with a secure attachment style tend to have greater emotional well-being and more intimacy and trust in their relationships. But what about those who have struggled with attachment trauma and insecure attachment in their past? This is where earned secure attachment comes into play. By understanding the context that has shaped your attachment style, you can work towards developing a secure foundation for your relationships moving forward.

Relationship issues can be so triggering — it’s biology, we are wired for connection so the possibility of coming apart makes things feel real scary — and that makes it rife for analysis paralysis. Let’s take a minute to look at some myths and misconceptions I’ve heard as a therapist, and hopefully make the specter of relationship therapy a little less scary.

This post explores how a variety of cultural differences and power imbalances show up in interracial relationships and how couples can increase their awareness of these challenges and address them together to create more empathetic, authentic connection.

Kindman & Co. has now been up and running for 4 years! Amanda, our care coordinator, sat down with our co-founders, Kaitlin and Paul, to finally share the story of just how our practice got started and the importance of the social-justice, relational approach that we take. Click here to read more!

Any relationship between human beings carries with it countless internal and external pressures that require awareness, insight, communication, negotiation, and communication. These are important in any relationship, and when you invite another person into your relationship, complications and possibilities multiply. I want to welcome you all to the expansive, confusing, and wonderful world of consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and polyamory (or poly).

We get asked a lot here at Kindman & Co. if insurance benefits will cover relationship or couples therapy. The short answer is: probably not, and we’re not happy about it. From the perspective of insurance companies, problems in your relationship are not considered issues that impact your overall health to a degree that necessitates they pay for medical treatment. We disagree! Read more about our stance that couples therapy should be covered, too.

Sex is a big part of life! So, when partners are having difficulties around sex, it takes up a lot of space in the relationship. Read on to learn about all of the ways that starting sex therapy can benefit your relationship and get some of your most burning questions answered!