Have you fallen out of love?
During our childhood we grow up learning about all the fairy tales full of princesses, princes and happy endings. We learn about Cinderella, the girl who was forced into servitude by her stepmother, who gets a night out at the royal ball and meets her Prince Charming and lives happily ever after. We learn about Rapunzel who was kidnapped as a baby and confined to the top of a tower. Her knight in shining armor comes to save her and they lived happily ever after. We learn about Sleeping Beauty, who ate a poisonous apple and the only way to wake up was to be kissed by her one true love. Her true love comes and kisses her and they lived happily ever after. We learn about all these stories growing up and it gives a false expectation of what happily ever after means. When we become disconnected with one another we can start to fall out of love with each other. Is there anything we can do to revive our happily ever afters with the ones we love?
Earning her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University, Nicole Stone is founder and owner of Embark Therapy. In her private practice, she works with couples and individuals, focusing on the impact relationships have on her clients’ lives, including their mental and emotional health. Nicole works with partners at any stage of their relationship and with a variety of presenting concerns, including infidelity, lack of intimacy, considering divorce or separation, as well as remarriage, step-parenting and blending families. She has also been trained in Discernment Counseling, has completed the Level 1 Gottman-Method Training for couples therapy, and is a certified PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator.
To find out more about Nicole Stone and her practice, Embark Therapy, you can visit their website or call (919) 397-5626 for an appointment.
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Are Your Relationship Expectations Realistic?
We all have our own set of expectations in every aspect of life. We have a set of expectations when it comes to work. Whether it’s our tasks at work, work atmosphere, or job duties, we come into work with what we think will happen. When these expectations are not met at work, we often find ourselves unhappy and wanting to find something better. We look for a place that matches well with our personalities and shares a common goal to what we want to do in line so that we are happy with the work we are doing. What happens when our expectations and reality don’t correlate in our relationships? We don’t want to throw away all the hard work that we’ve put in. So, what can we do to help alleviate some of the tension that occurs when our expectations aren’t realistic in our relationships?
Earning her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University, Ms. Melissa Staley is a Managing Partner for Foundations Family Therapy in – Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Melissa has extensive experience working with a wide range of mental health settings and specialties. She has worked in a non-profit specializing in Multi-Systemic Therapy, worked with adolescents with behavioral difficulties and their families, taught anger and frustrations management, communication, positive thinking, and social interaction, worked in a detox and mental health crisis stabilization center and she has conducted clinical assessments and facilitated therapy groups. Melissa currently works with individuals, couples, families and children ages 4 and up. She has completed the Level 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and certified as a PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator.
To find out more about Ms. Melissa Staley and her practice, Foundations Family Therapy, you can visit their website or call (919) 285-4802 for an appointment.
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Is your relationship flat? Dull? Losing its luster? Are you bored?
When things lack excitement in our lives, we tend to get bored with them very quickly and easily. We try to find the next, newest best thing. If our hair is flat, dull, and losing luster, we try a new conditioner or hairstyle. If our cell phones are from last season, we go buy the newest version of iPhone or Android. When a new video game, fashion trend or hairstyle becomes popular, we all flock to the stores and salons to get the new exciting trends as we become bored with our old things. But what if your relationship is flat and dull? And you’re feeling really bored with your partner? Perhaps the sex life is barely there or absent altogether. We don’t just drop our relationship to find someone else to keep things exciting. How can we add some excitement, adventure, and passion into our relationships?
Earning her Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology at Temple University, Dr. Susan Orenstein is founder and director of Orenstein Solutions in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Orenstein has devoted her professional career to helping individuals and couples improve their most intimate relationships. She specializes in relationship and couples issues. Dr. Orenstein is committed to providing state-of-the-art practices in marital counseling and to that end, continues to attend professional training programs.
To find out more about Dr. Susan Orenstein and her practice, Orenstein Solutions, you can visit their website or call (919) 428-2766 for an appointment.
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