Brandon Coussens LMFT Blog – Marriage, Counseling & Relationships

Trust vs. Control: How to Rebuild Trust Without Falling Into the Trap of Control

Attitude, Dishonesty, Marriage, Positive Thinking, Relationships, Trust

Picture of a stick figure trusting another to catch them while another stick figure controls another like a puppet.

Have you ever had your trust broken or has there been a breach of trust between you and a loved one?

What a silly question, right? We all have had our trust broken. When this foundation on which we build all relationships is rocked, it can feel almost impossible to rebuild. You and I don’t realize sometimes how important trust is in our everyday lives until we are smacked in the face with deception, hurt, or uncertainty. Sitting in a chair is a choice of trust. Driving in your car is a risky decision, yet we do it every day at 50 to 70 miles per hour or more. When it comes to relationships, many times we ignore or aren’t aware of how much trust plays a role in how we relate to others and how they relate to us.

What does it mean when your husband rejects you sexually?: Understanding your man’s distance.

Husband, Intimacy, Marriage, Men, Relationships, Sex, Wife

Let's set the scene. You have been doing everything you can to seduce your husband and make him want you. However, he just never takes the bate. He seems uninterested. Sex has dwindled. He is disengaged and focused on other things. What is going on? Am I not good enough, pretty enough, or sexy enough? Why does he not want to ravage me?

A husband and wife looking down and struggling with their intimacy and how to become more connected not realizing that they are very different and that is okay.

My Wife Hasn’t Slept With Me In Months: 5 reasons your wife is not interested

Intimacy, Marriage, Men, Sex, Sex Therapy

When a wife doesn't seem interested in sex or is avoiding it, what is going on? You are confused and frustrated. Isn't sex a big part of marriage? These are questions I have helped people with. As a certified sex therapist, I believe you can revive your intimacy, but there are real reasons that your wife doesn't want to be intimate with you.

Is It Okay To Not Forgive Someone?

Forgivneness, Marriage, Relationships

Have you been stuck in unforgiveness? You may be asking, "Why should I forgive?" Or, maybe, you are 100% sure you shouldn't forgive. Unforgiveness may seem right, especially if you don't spend much time around someone who hurt you. What's the point when you don't even see them? On the other hand, can unforgiveness be a hindrance and hold you back? That's why I ask, "Is it okay to not forgive someone?"

How to Build Trust in a Marriage

Marriage, Relationships, Trust, Wife

When a couple starts dating and enters a more serious relationship with each other, they automatically seem to trust each other. They don't question each other's motives. The couple gives each other the benefit of the doubt. Then one day something happens to disturb their tranquility. A negative event can strike anytime after a couple has started dating, when they are engaged, or even after they are married. Trust can quickly be lost. Whether small or large, the earthquake shakes their view of each other and leaves cracks in the foundation of the relationship.

5 Things Men Need From Their Wives: Understand Your Husband

Marriage, Men, Relationships, Wife

In my practice, I see couples struggle to understand how to meet each other's needs. I am speaking about the needs of men here, but I also want to think about how this applies to wives also. Husbands and wives both have needs. It is true that both struggle to express their needs and understand their partner's needs.

What is trust?

Dishonesty, Marriage, Relationships, Trust

To rebuild trust, you need to know what trust is. Without understanding what trust is and what it is not, you might find it hard to develop trust...

7 Reasons Lying At The Beginning Of A Relationship Is Not Okay

Dishonesty, Marriage, Relationships, Trust

I was asked the other day about why someone's relationship had gotten so far off the rails. My first thought came as a question: Did the relationship begin with dishonesty? As I pondered this more, I wondered if I could help people entering relationships to make sure that they stand a fighting chance.

Does Lying Cause PTSD in a relationship picture

Does Lying Cause PTSD in Relationships?

Marriage, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Relationships

Lying in your relationship does not usually cause PTSD because PTSD is triggered by more severe events than trauma. You can be traumatized by a host of things, but PTSD has very severe symptoms brought on usually by a dangerous or deadly event.

Marriage and Intimacy Insights Blog

Trust vs. Control: How to Rebuild Trust Without Falling Into the Trap of Control

What does it mean when your husband rejects you sexually?: Understanding your man’s distance.

My Wife Hasn’t Slept With Me In Months: 5 reasons your wife is not interested

Is It Okay To Not Forgive Someone?

How to Build Trust in a Marriage

5 Things Men Need From Their Wives: Understand Your Husband

What is trust?

7 Reasons Lying At The Beginning Of A Relationship Is Not Okay

Does Lying Cause PTSD in Relationships?

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