Date Night Gone Bad Derek and Missy Irvin Discuss how a recent date night conflict got away from them and what they did about it. Has This Ever Happened to You? Have you ever had a date night go bad? You make plans, you buy tickets, you make reservations and then a conflict creeps in…
Creating A New Dance In Your Marriage Derek and Missy Irvin Discuss how when one of you starts to get healthy that sometimes it can get worse before it gets better, but it is worth it in the long run. In every relationship, we settle into a “dance” or a way of being and interacting…
Opposites Attract and then They Attack Derek and Missy Irvin Discuss how the very things that draw you together can later be the things that cause conflict. There is an old saying that at first opposites attract and then they attack. The very differences that draw us together are the same ones that later annoy…
Is Marriage Hard Work? Derek and Missy Irvin Discuss the topic, “Is Marriage Hard Work?” I recently sat with a group of couples who were discussing the question “Is Marriage Hard Work”. It was interesting the different opinions that were shared. One guy immediately answered with an emphatic, “yes!” He had been married for nine…
How Emotions Cause Conflict in Marriage Derek and Missy Irvin Discuss How Emotions Can Cause Conflict in Marriage. Have you ever had a fight with your spouse about something stupid? Whether if it was the proper way to load the dish washer, critiquing each other’s driving, or being distracted by your phone, all married couples…
How To Get the Most Out of Marriage Counseling Derek and Missy Irvin Discuss How to Get the Most Out of Your Marriage Counseling. If you are going to get the most out of marriage counseling, you must be willing to do the work outside of your counseling sessions. True progress and growth are made…
How To Choose a Marriage Counselor Derek and Missy Irvin discuss the process, expectations, and outcomes of choosing the right marriage counselor for you as a couple. Dr. John Gottman, founder of The Gottman Institute, found that unhappy couples wait an average of six years before seeking couples counseling. Therefore, by the time both parties…
Why do people not get the help they need when their marriage is struggling? Derek and Missy Irvin discuss the reasons why couples don’t get the help they need when their marriage is struggling. Different people will have different reasons for not getting help. Many do not know where to begin or don’t’ believe that…
The Role of the Pursuer All romantic relationships have a tendency to drift over time from feeling close to feeling distant. Busy lives, different needs, and unresolved conflicts all contribute to the drift. Pursuers play an important role in their marriage because they have a built in radar that is able to pick up even…
If You Have Broken Trust in the Relationship If you are the one who has broken trust in the relationship it is likely that you are feeling a great deal of regret and shame. You see the pain that your actions have caused your spouse and you wonder how in the world you got to…