I recently counseled a couple that had been stuck in anger and resentment. I had encouraged them to do something fun together. The wife rolled her eyes, and the husband turned away from her. They reluctantly agreed to do dance lessons. The next week they came into my office with the funniest story about the dance class and the other partners they had to dance with. We were all laughing so hard as they each described the funny events of the...

Some women sleep with married men because they most likely have been “mean girls” for a long time. These mean-girl man-stealers do not understand the bond of true sisterhood, and may have trouble with establishing or sustaining authentic female relationships because it is probably hard to find a nice girlfriend who would support their home-wrecking ways. Such a woman may not have ever gotten enough attention from her father, and...

I see many couples struggling with how to deal with money, what money means to each of them, and simply how to communicate about cash. The root issue around money can often be power: who holds the power, and who is getting what they want and need in the marriage and who is not. Money can also bring up issues of trust and fear. Money is emotional, and money has value beyond just the currency, but it also relates to our history and how our...

Recently I had an educational experience with a social acquaintance whom my husband and I both really liked: he was fun, silly, and fabulous. Then the bizarre incident occurred: “Social Friend” told one of my Besties I did something totally insane and untrue. Sounds like high school, doesn’t it? The crafty Social Friend even called me to chat and thank me for being a good friend, just before the crazy call to my BFRIE …...

The wealthy Florida woman Quinn Gray, who stands accused of faking her kidnapping and extorting money from her husband, may have been suffering from Stockholm Syndrome (the psychological bonding that can occur between captive and abuser), which was complicated by bipolar disorder. After listening to the tapes and watching her husband Reid struggling to understand this complicated and devastating incident, I am not convinced that she did any of...

Have you been looking at that other mom’s Range Rover at the PTA meeting? Maternal jealousy is a common, corrosive emotion. Jealousy denotes a feeling of resentment that another has gained something that one feels they rightfully deserve. Jealousy also refers to anguish caused by fear of losing someone or something to a rival. Envy is an urge to spoil or devalue what is good in others. Envy and jealousy are born out of the pain of...