advice

Do you know what it takes to make an effective apology?

Nobody is perfect; we have all done something that requires a sincere apology towards another person. Whether it was borrowing something from a friend without asking, forgetting about plans made with your spouse, or lying to your loved ones we have all had to take responsibility for our actions and offer an apology to smooth things over. When it comes to relationships, you have to be able to genuinely be sorry and apologize for things you have done wrong. If you do not, your partner may feel like they don’t matter or that you do not care about their feelings. Learning to make an effective apology can save yourself and your partner those negative feelings. How do we make an effective apology to our loved ones?

Professor of Family Medicine at UNC School of Medicine, as well as Director of Behavioral Medicine in the Dept of Family Medicine at Carolina Medical Center; Dr. Matthew Alexander is a psychologist and Founder of Alexander Therapy in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Alexander specializes in clinical, health and family psychology giving him a strong background in family systems, psychodynamic and interpersonal approaches to mental health. Dr. Alexander primarily treats couples in his private practice and is also available for public presentations on a variety of topics related to relationships.

To find out more about Dr. Matthew Alexander and his practice, Alexander Therapy, you can visit their website or call (704) 371-3070 for an appointment.

Do you have what it takes to overcome conflict in your relationship?

Conflict is a part of everyday life. In literature we learn the different types of conflict which can be classified as “man versus man”, “man versus nature”, and “man versus self.”  Although we are taught about the varying types of conflict in school, we aren’t necessarily taught how to deal with conflict and resolve our issues. When we come across conflict in our relationships, it is important to have the skills to overcome the problems so that you can continue to have a healthy relationship. If we are unable to mend our issues with our spouse there can be a variety of negative effects that can come about. What are some of the tools that we can use to overcome conflict in our relationships?

Earning her Masters degree from Northern Illinois University, Mrs. Shelly Hummel is CEO of The Align Center for Couples in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Mrs. Hummel specializes in helping couples create stronger and more meaningful relationships. She is a Gottman Certified Therapist and has been in practice for 16 years. Mrs. Hummel facilitated an educational program for the State of Iowa to divorcing parents entitled “Children in the Middle” as well as in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is a member of the North Carolina American Association of Marriage Therapists and a Certified Seven Principles Educator. She sees couples for weekly sessions or for intensives, which are 1 to 3 days of intensive therapy for local or out-of-state couples in crisis.

To find out more about Shelly Hummel and her practice, The Align Center for Couples, you can visit their website or call (919) 880-2566 for an appointment.

Do you struggle with effective communication in your relationship?

Advances in technology these days has allowed for several means of communication to be created and utilized. Back in the simpler days you had to talk to someone face to face or over the phone which allowed for more intimate conversations with each other. Today, we have texting, social media, and email. Through using these new instruments of communication you lose that sense of intimacy with each other which can cause translation to be lost between each other. How can we overcome our transgressions when it comes to communicating with each other in this day and age?

Earning her Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University, Mrs. Amanda Lis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at New Perspectives Therapy in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has experience working in private practice counseling, assessment and managed care. Mrs. Lis is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her areas of special interest are in working with couples on issues like improving communication, conflict management, building trust and increasing emotional intimacy. Mrs. Lis has worked with families, couples and individuals on issues dealing with a variety of disorders as well as relationship problems.

To find out more about Amanda Lis and her practice, New Perspectives Therapy, you can visit their website or call (980) 285-8041 for an appointment.