advice

Do you have what it takes to handle the ups and downs of marriage?

Have you ever wondered if you were marriage material? Before walking down the aisle, wedding vows symbolize the epitome of romance. However, once you’ve said ‘I do’, the words”till death do us part” sounds more like a punishment than a reward. Marriage isn’t always a walk in the park – it’s hard. To make a marriage work it takes blood, sweat and tears; literally. How well are you able to navigate the winding road of marriage?

Earning his masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Sonoma State University, Mr. Geoffry Luce is the founder of Marriage Alliance Counseling in Durham, NC. Mr. Luce has completed internships in marriage and family counseling, as well as employee assistance and chemical dependency programs. Practicing in both Durham and Fayetteville, Mr. Luce is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina with extensive experience working with couples, families, adolescents, and individual adults. One of the key visions he has in life is to help others build strong, lasting marriages.

To find out more about Geoffry Luce and his practice, Marriage Alliance Counseling, you can visit their website or call (919) 923-8634 for an appointment.

Is your love life an erotic novel or abusive nightmare?

The 50 Shades of Grey trilogy has steadily remained at the top of the New York Times bestseller list for several months. The risqué nature of the book that once started out as Twilight fan-fiction is catching the attention of men and women across the globe. Aptly nicknamed “Mommy Porn”, the over the top erotic and abusive nature of the trilogy evokes visions of a modern version of The Story of O. Questions about the nature of the intense relationship between the two main characters and the book’s strong appeal to women are being discussed widely.

In marriage, how do you determine whether the dynamic between you and your spouse is healthy or abusive when behaviors encourage dominant and submissive relationships?

Colette Segalla is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Colette is a psychotherapist with Lepage Associates in Durham, NC where she works with individuals and couples on issues ranging from anxiety and depression to problems in sexual intimacy. She enjoys working with couples to improve communication, connection, and emotional and physical intimacy.

To find out more about Colette Segalla and her practice, Lepage Associates in Durham, NC, you can visit them online or call 919-572-0000 for an appointment.

Are your broken dreams affecting your relationship?

From childhood to adulthood we have all had hopes and dreams for our futures. As children we dream of becoming presidents, police officers, astronauts, pilots, and firefighters. As we age into teenagers and young adults our dreams consist of going to college to get our degrees and travelling the world. As adults we dream of things like having a family and climbing the corporate ladder. When you get married, some of your hopes and dreams may become morphed together as both of you want each other to achieve your dreams. You may want to start a family or move to the other side of the country. But, what happens when these dreams die or fail? How can this affect your relationship and how do you move on?

Earning his degrees in Ministry and Communication, Mr. Sheridan Voysey has been broadcasting for 18 years as well as speaking professionally for 12 years. Mr. Voysey has interviewed over 2000 people in his broadcasting career and won an award for services to Australian broadcasting in 2011. He is the author of five books including the most recent: Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings.

To find out more about Sheridan Voysey, you can visit his website.