When people remarry one or both spouses often have children from a prior marriage. Having stepchildren presents real challenges when it comes to blending the family into a cohesive unit. Not only do you have to learn to live with your new spouse and stepchild, but...

Sometimes couples decide that separating for a period of time could actually be healthy for a marriage. But it is also a risky move, because the separation could become so appealing that the spouses decide to take the next step which is divorce. (...)

Domestic violence occurs all to often in the home. Domestic violence and abuse can take many forms too. It can be abuse that is physical, emotional, mental or sexual. Despite what many courts seem to believe a husband can rape a wife, because rape occurs when the...

Deciding to start a family is a huge decision. When people get married the discussions about children can take several routes. • Agree to wait a few years • Start a family immediately • Not have children • Decide later on whether to have children...

Control issues can create a lot of problems in a marriage. In fact there are many marriages that have ended up in divorce court because a husband or wife decides they are sick of having every move they make controlled. (...)

When you remarry there is always the belief the second time around will result in a much more successful marriage. You hopefully learned a lot about yourself and marriage as a result of being married once already. (...)

Many marriage partners must deal with religious differences in the marriage. This can be an issue that causes problems if not approached with an open mind, patience and a willingness to come to agreement in certain areas. (...)

Jealousy is a destructive emotion that serves no real purpose. Unfortunately it is an emotion that appears in marriages all the time. When one spouse is jealous of another there are certain behaviors that follow. (...)

Retrouvaille means “rediscovery”. Retrouvaille for marriage problems is a weekend program with follow up support sessions that focuses on teaching new communication techniques. The Retrouvaille program was introduced in Canada in 1977 and has spread to many...

It would be nice if every husband or wife had a dollar each time their spouse told them, “I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me!” Marriage miscommunication is common to just about every couple for a simple reason. (...)

There are some things that can seriously affect a marriage to the extent the relationship and the entire family becomes miserable. Substance abuse and family misery go hand in hand. When you live with spouse substance abuse, all the joy in the marriage dissipates. (...)

Family counseling can take many different forms. There is couples counseling, counseling for children and family counseling where the entire family attends sessions. Couples counseling can become the impetus to begin addressing problems in the marriage or family...

In some marriages, one or both partners may begin to feel neglected by the other. Feeling neglected by a husband or wife doesn’t mean he or she is failing to do their duty or is being intentionally difficult. (...)

Keeping the love alive in a marriage can be a real challenge over the years. Many a wife or husband has decided at a certain point that the love has died and living in a loveless marriage is unacceptable in their lives. (...)