In my counseling office, I have seen many relationships succeed with this kind of older woman/younger man scenario. The media focuses on the age difference, but what really makes or breaks the relationship is how well the couple can form a partnership or

Images of romance surround us: the couple holding hands at Starbucks, the gazillions of bridal magazines you breeze past on the way to buy toilet paper, or the frolicking couples on billboard perfume ads. Newsflash: real people don't do this

What do you do if you want to date or are already in a relationship with a person who is weighed down by emotional baggage?

She tells you that you just don't understand her, and that she really wishes that you would just do more little things.

I believe there are at least a dozen ways to know who someone really is -- indicators -- and if we do an inventory early on, we might stand a better chance of getting to know the real person before we fully commit.

According to Peggy Vaughan, the author of "The Monogamy Myth," 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women will have an affair...

Thirty years of marriage counseling and twenty-five years of a second marriage have convin

Introducing a new partner to your mom or other family members is intimidating. Here are six relationship tips that foster a smooth, warm coming together.

Why do I feel I'm doing more for the relationship than my partner is?

In happy, successful relationships, both partners seem to be on the same page and to really enjoy life together. The more you have in common with the other person on the things that count, the more successful you are likely to be in the relationship. I c

You're in love, you're committed, and now you've decided to take the big step that says "I'm yours/you're mine." Congratulations! Before you seal the deal though, get your financial affairs in order. Why? Because among the chief reasons couples often spli

We can never agree on what to eat and it causes regular conflict. Can this be resolved?

Is it better to be the breaker-upper or the dumpee? With so much attention being paid to those poor people dumped every year, no one ever takes time to think about what it's like to be the dumper. Hardly an enviable position, the decision to break up with

After the last box of tissues is emptied, the tears have dried up, and the remaining pint of ice cream inhaled, you wonder: Now what? You're still not over the breakup, but you're finally ready to move on.

My partner and I have families in different parts of the country. It's tough to get them together and it's always hard deciding where we're going to spend the holidays. Any suggestions?

Holiday visits to in-laws, present or prospective, can test the strongest of bonds, even if you believe you could be hitting the in-law jackpot and winning a stellar extended family.

You've been with your boyfriend for several months or years and you're sitting in a restaurant for girls' night out. The inevitable question arises as you bite into your first jumbo shrimp: "Why hasn't he asked you to marry him yet?" Cocktail sauce drips

My boyfriend and I have been together since Thanksgiving of last year. In this short period of time, we've moved in together and, unfortunately, the lack of preparation has taken a financial toll on both of us and now he's moving back to his parents for t

You jumped at the chance to host Thanksgiving -- you want everyone to see what a great new life you have together and you want to show everyone you can put on a dinner that would make Martha Stewart proud. Then your guests show up, break a couple of wine

The best hosts are the ones who seem to be enjoying the party as much as everyone else, regardless of money spent or pre-festivity prep work. The stress of trying to please everyone is very taxing and can ruin the party for you and the guests who can see

My partner and I seem to be having a disconnect. For example, I try to initiate sex, but she rejects me. I sigh and roll over, but she still offers no response. It wasn't like this in the beginning. What's the problem and what can we do?

My irregular work hours are really starting to tick off my partner. I can't quit, so what can I do?

Disasters are no new predicament, but when recent catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina, the Asian tsunami, and the Southern California wildfires fill every media outlet and pervade our conscience, it begs the question: Are you and your partner prepared for

Why does my partner seem to want different things from the relationship than I do?

It seems like whenever we're in a group, my partner reveals some embarrassing information about me that was supposed to stay between us. What can I do?

My man tells me he would like to spend time with his friends. I know this is important to him, but I get upset anyway. Why do I get jealous when my guy goes out with friends?

For some couples, coming home to each other every night isn't an option. Whether the job is a must for income or one's passion, long distances between a couple can take a toll on a relationship. Meet five couples committed to going the distance despite th

Why do I have a compulsion to check my partner's email and voicemail?

My man always leaves the front door unlocked after I repeatedly ask him to lock it. Is there anything I can do to change his habits?

Like so many counterproductive habits, trying to control others can be a way of coping with insecurities. What's to fear? How about your survival and safety? If your sense of trust in the world -- and in your parents -- was broken at an early age because

Why do I feel threatened by my partner's opposite-sex friends?

My gal wants me to try being a metrosexual. I say no way!

Mr. Monk, the TV detective who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Jack Nicholson, as the compulsive hand-washer in the film "As Good As It Gets," are extreme examples of people who are constantly anxious unless they can be sure everythi

My partner and I have regular arguments because he'll say one thing, then do another. What can I do?

From catnip to kitty litter, a man has to be knowledgeable and equipped to incorporate into his daily routine the requirements of his feline counterpart. He has to be aware of the feminine wiles in his regal cat-mosphere, and avoid cat-astrophe by caterin

Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward overcoming the single biggest problem people seeking a relationship have: they lack access to meeting quality new people.

Guilt: Some forms of irrational guilt result from an illusion of power and responsibility. Guilt can be healthy when it reminds us that we're deviating from our values. Some forms of guilt, however, spring from the belief that we should be able to save an

I'm in a great relationship with a great woman, but I need some space. Do you have any advice?

Hey, "Don't worry, they're going to love you!" Well, sort of. The surest way to charm the in-laws is to be yourself -- your best self! Remember, you're going for a job interview, and you want to secure the position of beloved daughter-in-law, not "what ev

You are at a friend's party having a great time. You look over and see your date or partner laughing, chatting -- and could that be flirting? -- with someone else at the party. What do you do?

Question: Why do I get so jealous when my partner talks to other people?

I don't know your secrets, but I do know that just about every one of my romance clients has asked me sooner or later, "How do I tell him/her about...?" Do you have a nagging issue that you just can't figure out how to share with a new partner? Everybody

There is nothing more glorious than falling in love! What a wonderful feeling it is when, after all that searching and seeking, you finally hook up with that compatible mate. But wait! How can you know that the person you think is right for you, is really

Here's a great irony: Men, in general, are happy in their relationships. The reason? Because you're pretty darn amazing. And yet women -- the very people responsible for making guys so happy -- spend a great deal of time fretting over whether their men wa

One day, you are madly in love. You're cuddling on the couch, reading love poems and feeding each other sushi. And that's when it happens: Your partner sits you down for the "It's-Not-You, It's-Me" talk. You're confused and left wondering, "How could I ha