by Christine Hammond on September 17, 2020
Hindsight is a 20/20 vision when it comes to the fall of a relationship. What was once overlooked, minimized, explained away, or discounted now becomes an obvious sign of a deteriorating relationship. At first, they seemed so charming, helpful, generous, innocent, and gentle but then things turned, and an entirely different picture became apparent. Charming… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on February 22, 2020
The phrase “toxic relationship” is thrown around quite a bit in popular media. But what really defines a toxic relationship? Toxic can be anything from an unhealthy to downright deadly. But it can be difficult when things are going well in a relationship to see some of the warning signs of toxicity. Frequently, what is… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on February 21, 2020
David wondered if it was time for his relationship with Stephanie to end. In the beginning, things were great, and he thought that he found the love of his life. She was charming, helpful, generous, and gentle. But as time passed, new problems emerged. The ease of their relationship was now tumultuous. The excitement and… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 30, 2019
Looking back, Jack could see that his relationship with Amanda was over several months ago, perhaps even years. But he was in denial and didn’t want to confront the painful issues that were left unresolved. What was once overlooked, minimized, explained away, or discounted is now an obvious sign of his deteriorating relationship. At first,… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 10, 2019
When Bryan first met his girlfriend, he was smitten. She was charming, helpful, generous, kind, and interesting. She would laugh at his lame jokes, tell him how smart he was, was adventurous, and actively seek ways to spend time together. Naturally, Bryan overlooked some of the more concerning behaviors that his friends pointed out. His… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 7, 2018
When twelve years of marriage ended, Jack realized during the divorce that his wife was narcissistic. The cold-hearted way she treated their marriage and the divorce highlighted her insensitivity, arrogance, lack of remorse, and superiority complex. Now, Jack was left to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and find a way to move… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 7, 2018
Have you ever wondered what a therapist is thinking about while you talk about your relationship woes? While I can’t speak for all therapists, I do look for specific factors that can determine success or failure in any relationship. When an area is revealed, such as a pattern of lying, it needs to be therapeutically… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on March 3, 2017
The short answer is yes. While this might seem like a strange concept, those who have been victims understand it all too well. An acquaintance starts sending excessive messages, magically showing up unexpectedly, asks too intimate or probing questions, gives inappropriate gifts, and seems to immerse themselves into environments or other friendships just to stay… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 5, 2016
As a counselor who has worked with over a thousand couples, I’m still shocked by the resistance that comes from a simple suggestion of dating your spouse. After all, it is not a new concept. There are hundreds of books, seminars, conferences, YouTube videos, and articles detailing the benefits of regularly dating your spouse. Yet… (more…)