Mary Ellen Goggin

Make This The Summer of Love

By Mary Ellen Goggin / August 3, 2018

Savor life (and love) this summer. Summer is a time to kick-back, lighten up and be more carefree. I don’t know about you, but all month I’ve had that wonderful last-day-of-school feeling, which is a combination of relief, new-found freedom and excitement. I’m going with it and letting this recaptured feeling build. Summer seduces me…

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What Is Your Communication Style: Direct or Indirect?

By Mary Ellen Goggin / July 23, 2018

Have you ever noticed that some people in your life are direct, to the point and crystal clear about their opinions on a wide range of topics? They have a “direct” communication style. Other people use an indirect style. They spend more time developing their point and are afraid to create tension or discomfort, especially…

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Time for Spring Cleaning Your Relationship?

By Mary Ellen Goggin / March 19, 2018

Spring gifts us with a booster-shot of motivation. Who can resist the urge to clean, de-clutter, purge, and simplify our environment? This year, consider whether your inner environment could benefit from a Spring cleaning too. Our handy checklist will help you clear out the clutter so your relationship can shine!

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My Partner Says I Need To Tell Her Every Little thing

By Mary Ellen Goggin / October 29, 2017

What is your advice? Every night when Julie gets home from the office, Dan questions her about her day. He expects to hear about the morning commute, project meeting, lunch, phone calls and e-mails with friends. Julie has no interest in reliving her day and usually wants to cuddle and watch a funny show or…

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Marriage Retreat: Tune-up for a smooth ride

By Mary Ellen Goggin / July 18, 2016

 At a dinner party the other night, an attractive 40-something woman asked me what I do.  I told her that I work with couples who want more satisfying relationships. “You mean you’re a therapist? I don’t believe in therapy. What’s the point?” she scoffed. “My husband and I were married 20 years ago. We’ve never…

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Marriage Counseling Can Transform Your Relationship

By Mary Ellen Goggin / April 5, 2013

A Marriage Counseling Retreat Can Transform Your Relationship Marriage and Couples Counseling can be successful given the right ingredients: readiness, right timing, and resonance with a marriage counselor (and better yet, a counselor couple) who is experienced, knowledgeable, and highly skilled. Private intensive weekend retreats with the right mix of elements can be even more…

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Benefits of Couples Counseling Retreat with a PhD Husband-Wife Team

By Mary Ellen Goggin / April 5, 2013

We’re all human. Well, most of us. Invariably, during an intensive couples counseling retreat, Jerry and I exchange not-so-secret smiles of acknowledgment when one partner starts riffing about an ultra-annoying habit of the other. Think crinkling candy wrappers during movies, open-mouth chewing, fidgeting, fiddling, finger-tapping, incessant sighing, yelling from another room,  not making eye contact,…

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Commitment Phobic or Just Confused?

By Mary Ellen Goggin / October 29, 2012

Commitment Phobic or Just Confused by the Words “I Do”? I’m going out on a limb here by stating that the deep down cause of commitment phobia is the historic baggage associated with marriage as an impersonal institution of marriage and NOT lack of love. It’s about fear of loss of self and personal freedom.…

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