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Dr. Romance is delighted to announce the publication of her new book, with co-author Riley K. Smith:
How to be Happy Partners: Working it out Together
By Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. and Riley K Smith, MA
How to Be ... Views: 1695
Dr. Romance wishes you a Happy New Year!
Every New Year feels like a new beginning. The sun, at its furthest point at Winter Solstice, has begun its annual swing closer to Earth, you change your calendar, and we all feel the renewal of the fresh, new year. With this sense of ... Views: 1463
Dr. Romance sees many clients who are having marital problems because of the following bad habits. If you find yourself doing any of these things, consider changing your behavior or getting counseling.
1) You place social media above real communication; This can be a big problem, ... Views: 1830
Dr. Romance sees many clients who are having marital problems because of the following bad habits. If you find yourself doing any of these things, consider changing your behavior or getting counseling.
1) You place social media above real communication; This can be a big problem, ... Views: 685
As a Psychologist, Dr. Romance knows that when we're surrounded by images of violence, it becomes "normalized" and we stop seeing it as unusual.
Anyone who watches the news is becoming aware that we live in a violent society: According to the Peace Alliance:
• ... Views: 2383
Dr. Romance writes:
A couple of years ago, I had some difficult dental work. It was very painful, and while I recovered physically pretty quickly, I had some post -traumatic stress reactions – bad dreams, flashbacks, and upset – after my recovery. I had to acknowledge my upset and feelings, ... Views: 1731
Dr. Romance reflects:
One of the things I'm very grateful for in my life is the opportunities I have had to travel and see the world. When I see a world in turmoil: earthquakes, war, terrorism, famine, political upheaval, inflation, human rights violations: I think not of the ... Views: 1382
Dr. Romance wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving!
A lot of people aren’t very good at looking at the positive. I hear a lot of negativity, blaming and complaining daily in my counseling office, and I find the more negative people are, the worse their lives work. Talking about how bad it all is seems ... Views: 1326
Dr. Romance writes:
The founding fathers of our country saw the “pursuit of happiness” as an inalienable right – so important they embedded it in the DNA of the United States of America, by writing it into the Preamble to the Constitution. It was a profoundly new idea at the time. With it, ... Views: 1875
Dr. Romance writes: You have probably entered relationships madly in love, convinced that your feelings for each other were so strong your dream would carry you through the tough times, but wound up feeling more like you were living in a nightmare than a dream, struggling with conflicting wants ... Views: 1012
It's not easy to know what to do when you have a friend who seems depressed. Dr. Romance has some guidelines to help you support and care for your dear one.
1. Don't try to cheer your friend up. It just sounds like you don't understand.
2. Listen, listen, listen: Your friend ... Views: 1516
Dr Romance adapted this from an Alcoholics Anonymous handout:
We often get out of touch or out of sorts with people – sometimes they leave or pass on, sometimes we quarrel, sometimes we just grow apart. If your connection, or lack of one, with someone is troubling you, here’s a simple way to ... Views: 1691
Dr. Romance writes:
Those of you who have read my articles know that I am always talking about the importance of good communication, urging better communication, and giving skills for being better understood. Communication is one of the most important aspects of relationships; positive and ... Views: 1142
Dr. Romance writes:
Many of my clients want to know: What is a safe surrender to love? They have been in love before, and have gotten hurt. While we all are aware of the joy and beauty of love, and the profound pleasure of being in love, most of us are also afraid of mistakes, of making a wrong ... Views: 1476
Dr. Romance writes:
Many of my clients want to know: What is a safe surrender to love? They have been in love before, and have gotten hurt. While we all are aware of the joy and beauty of love, and the profound pleasure of being in love, most of us are also afraid of mistakes, of making a wrong ... Views: 695
Dr. Romance writes:
There was a time when life seemed very hard, so hard I tried not to think about it.. Several times I helped to destroy some very viable relationships. Changing myself, my life and my loves has been very exciting and fulfilling, yet I am still growing. Love Styles is intended ... Views: 1471
Dr. Romance writes:
It was one of those magical encounters with a personal truth—you know how it feels. I was fifteen, in ninth-grade English. The teacher, Mr. Rizzutto, read us a poem, and it had such a profound effect on me that even five decades later, I’m still using it as a guide. The ... Views: 1780
Dr. Romance writes: It seems logical that like would attract like, but in my private practice as a marriage counselor and psychotherapist, I often see people drawn to their opposite ‑‑ because it's new and exciting.
However, what’s exciting in the newness of romance often becomes ... Views: 2400
"As the price of liberty is vigilance -- so the price of independence is self-determination, the price of dignity is self-assertion, and the price of respect is self-respect," wrote psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz.
Dr. Romance knows that self-determination and self-respect are the ... Views: 2639
Make new friends, keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.——adage
Research conducted by Dr. Dean Ornish and others shows that the happiest and healthiest people are those who are well-connected to friends and family. But, in our mobile society, keeping friends is not always possible. ... Views: 1289
Dr. Romance on spreading kindness
Spreading kindness is the best way I know to be happy. If you want to spread kindness around, here are some ideas:
*Kindness begins on the inside – learn to be as kind in talking to yourself as you are to others – then, keep improving. Self-talk sets the bar ... Views: 1592
Dr. Romance is aware that there is a heavy emphasis on youth in today's culture. Companies and individuals want to sell you potions, clothing, makeup, diets, exercise and attitudes and other magic to help you stay young. But, scientific research shows that these things ... Views: 1361
Dr. Romance asks: Should you date someone who is divorced? Does it mean the person can't commit or trashes relaitonships?
It's possible that those things are true, but let's look on the positive side. What are the perks of people who have already been through ... Views: 2123
Dr. Romance writes:
There’s a pervasive myth in our society that there is a right and a wrong way to love. However, there’s not much clarity about what the right might be. We all have difficulty with relationships and difficulty with love. Therefore, we’re liable to draw the uncomfortable ... Views: 1327
Dr. Romance writes: Often, it seems that there are not enough hours in the day to do everything that must be done, and like the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland we have to run as fast as we can just to stay in place. And she was created before computers, cell phones and e-mail! ... Views: 1266
Dr. Romance writes: Often, it seems that there are not enough hours in the day to do everything that must be done, and like the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland we have to run as fast as we can just to stay in place. And she was created before computers, cell phones and e-mail! ... Views: 1286
Dr. Romance writes:
I’ve been talking with clients a lot recently about what to do if someone you love or care for is self-destructing through addiction, or is making it difficult to be a friend because they’re out of control. We all have had some dramatic examples on television and in ... Views: 807
Dr. Romance writes:
It's easy to get discouraged when we become aware of the suffering throughout the world: natural disasters; racial prejudice; addiction and self-destruction; political oppression in its many forms (starvation, war, torture, misinformation, imprisonment, denial of ... Views: 1014
Dr. Romance writes:
In my clinical experience, I've encountered many clients who are afraid to admit they're wrong. This comes from a culture of blaming and accusing -- where one's early family may have picked a "culprit" when something went wrong, and focused on blame, rather than on fixing ... Views: 1503
Dr. Romance writes:
When I met Richard , my husband, October 10, 1981, he was sitting outside, and the sun was glinting off his red hair, and my whole body and soul said "wow!" We married on May 9, 1982, and thirty-four years later, we’re still happy. It ... Views: 3036
Dr. Romance writes: Early in our marriage, after a difficult struggle between us, I gave my husband Richard a card. All over the front it said, "I love you," and inside it said, "It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it." That phrase has carried us through many ... Views: 1499
Dr. Romance writes: Recently, I went through very unpleasant and difficult dental work, and the outpouring of kindness I received -- from my husband, who held onto my ankle all through the two and a half hours (and had nightmares that night about it) to my dear friends, who offered me support ... Views: 1066
Dr. Romance writes: There are people in my life who are easy to be around, and others I love who are more difficult for me. It’s not that they’re bad people, others get along with them fine, and, actually, so do I. It’s just that I have to work a little bit more to ... Views: 1361
Dr. Romance writes:
What do you do after you have tried everything and your partner, friend, child or colleague still won't negotiate?
In previous articles, like “Asking for What you Want,” “Couples Can Cooperate for Success” and “Gentle Persistence” we’ve explored a lot of ... Views: 2534
Dr. Romance on Resolving Money Fights:
Money talks need to be a part of scheduling weekly meetings - not just for money, but also for catching up with one another.
Bills, social planning, long-term goals and working on your relationship are just some of the issues you'll discuss. Just ... Views: 685
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In today's world, people don't often realize the importance of companionship until later in life. Staying fit and physically and socially active increases your odds of finding someone to date, and also increases your libido and your chances of successful sex. But, ... Views: 1781
Dr. Romance discusses advice on dating after widowhood.
To view the video, click here.
Dr. Romance's 3 Tips for Finding New Love
For a while after a relationship ends, you may not feel like considering a new relationship, which is probably good. Jumping right from ... Views: 1796
Dr. Romance on men and biological clocks:
To watch video, click here
Yes, a man can feel the need to grow up and have a family, especially when he finds a woman who inspires those feelings in him. The problem is, how can you be sure the match is a good one?
You’d think the positive ... Views: 2061
Guys, especially younger ones, are well known for having 'courting behavior' and then relaxing into their old, slobby selves once you're committed. It's not that men are from Mars, women from Venus - it's more like all of us have grown up on different planets. Couples can get caught up in ... Views: 2882
To watch video, click here
Dr Romance: Should you stay in your marriage?
Marriage can be frustrating and disappointing, especially if you don't have the skills to fix it. But giving in to the frustration and leaving may turn out to be the worst thing you ever did.
Consider these ... Views: 1921
To watch the video click here:
Dr. Romance's Guidelines for Creating a Sexual Agreement:
* Set up a problem-solving session:
* Having a time to talk about sex will help you create trust and sexual openness which makes finding solutions much easier.
* Begin with reassurance and ... Views: 2493
To view the video, click here.
Work can be the ideal environment for falling in love: you are in close proximity for a long period of time, you may have developed a good working partnership, and from there it is a short step to romance. However, workplace romance can present big problems. Dr. ... Views: 2328
Dr. Romance video, click here for video
When your partner refuses to help solve the problem, you have no choice but to focus on your own need until you get cooperation.
As long as you offer every opportunity to cooperate and you extend an invitation to your partner to join you whenever he ... Views: 2185
Dr. Romance announces The Real 13th Step:Discovering Confidence, Self-Reliance, and Independence Beyond the Twelve-Step Programs
Dear readers:
So many of you have written and e-mailed to ask about The Real 13th Step that I'm delighted to have this new edition in print. It's the ... Views: 2383
Dr. Romance Writes:
Frequently, life can become very busy and stressful. Delayed gratification, or patience, is a skill many of my clients need to learn when life feels overwhelming or difficult; but it isn't always easy, because it requires patience. Learning to be ... Views: 1253
Dr. Romance writes:
Richard and I have been married since 1982 It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s definitely been worth it. In the first year of our marriage, after a difficult struggle between us, I gave my husband a card. On the front it said, "I love you", many times, and inside ... Views: 721
In this tougher economy, couples are finding it necessary to take the jobs they can get, and that means more couples work different shifts. If one of you works a “graveyard shift” or rotating shift job that limits your time together; the difference in your shifts and commutes may mean you ... Views: 1793
Dr. Romance writes: There is so much unrest in the world today: we are still in two wars, terrorism seems to be endemic worldwide, and domestic violence still dominates the news. We still need to heed the old bumper sticker: TEACH PEACE. The more current one on my car says “Peace is ... Views: 1086
Dr. Romance writes: Each of us is individual, special and different for a reason: You are a gift to the planet.
Anthropology tells us we are different because we survive better that way – the recombining of genes in sexual reproduction makes us a stronger species than cloning would.
However, ... Views: 1285