Allen family counseling Archives

Don’t Wait for The Turkey: Top Tips for Showing Gratitude to Your Spouse All Year

With Thanksgiving approaching, it is easier than ever for most people to reflect on what they’re thankful for. When talking about your life partner, most of us can think of myriad ways that our spouse has made our life easier, better and more enjoyable. Do we take the time to show them our gratitude? Dallas-area counselors like those at I Choose Change say there is no reason to wait for the turkey to hit the table to show your spouse how thankful you are for their presence in your life. It is important to make an attitude of gratitude something you strive for every day in your marriage, as well as in other important relationships. Why Thankfulness Should Not Be Dependent on the Calendar The [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: Allen family counseling|

Rediscovering Your Spouse: Winter Activities to Reconnect

At I Choose Change, we encourage change that lasts a lifetime. That’s why every month, we’ll take a closer look at the issues that affect you and your family. In January, we’ll focus on resolutions and starting over, then we’ll switch gears and delve into doing the right thing and justice. I Choose Change serves all of Allen, Plano, McKinney, Wylie, Lucas, Sachse and Fairview, and we offer online and email counseling across the globe. Contact us here for more information. Winter Activities As 2018 commences, while many people are full of hope and the “new year, new me” mindset, there’s also the downside of the typical post-holiday letdown. These two elements can mix and lead to toxic ideas about what reinvention truly means, particularly [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: Allen family counseling, Dallas area therapist, marriage, reconnect|

Understanding the Anatomy of a Fight and How to Heal

Every couple fights. It’s an inevitable fact, ranging from doozies you remember for years, to minor spats over taking out the garbage. The fact is, though, that rarely are disagreements actually about the subject at hand. Anger is hard to express in a healthy way for many people, both to themselves and to their partner. Not only that, but in order to express anger without being destructive, you also need to understand what truly made you angry in the first place. Understanding Your Role in the Argument When you fight with your partner, you’re also effectively a cog in the argument machine. The longer you refuse to take a step back, the longer it will keep going. Acknowledging your role in the argument is important, [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: Allen based therapist, Allen family counseling, fighting fair|

Why You Should Skip Valentine’s Day

They’ve been everywhere you look, it seems like, the past month or so: advertisements and displays for candy, cards, and tangible tokens of affection. It’s Valentine’s Day, and the retailers want you to remember, reminding you at every turn. But that’s exactly why skipping the holiday in favor of adopting a healthier outlook on love is exactly what every couple needs this February. After all, you should love one another every day, not just one specific – and very commercialized – day out of the year. There are lots of good reasons why Valentine’s Day is a misleading occasion, but here are the big ones. 1. Wasted Money Means Wasted and Opportunities While Valentine’s Day and its meaning is interpreted in many different ways, one [Read more...]

By Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, Ph.D., LPC|Tags: Allen based therapist, Allen family counseling|