There is danger in surrounding yourself with people who don't believe in commitment or marriage. The company you choose to keep can have a critical impact on your beliefs, commitment, and ultimately, your relationship's success (or failure). 

In today's blog, Stephanie discusses the importance of taking time to turn away from technology and towards your relationship. Small habits like this help you to connect to your partner and minimize the risk of slowly disengaging from the relationship.

Stephanie Cook, LCSW, provides in-person and online counseling services to adults, teens, couples, and families; she specializes in working with young adults and couples on improving themselves and their relationships. Stephanie owns a small private practice, Counseling ATL, LLC, located in Decatur, an intown-suburb of Atlanta, GA, near Emory University. Her blog is dedicated to helping people improve their lives and relationships.

Every day in your relationship, you have infinite opportunities to connect or disconnect from your partner. Dr. John Gottman calls these "sliding door" moments--getting ready for work, doing chores, cooking meals, etc. Each is an opportunity which presents you with a choice for how to respond to your partner, either towards closeness or distance. Learn how to "turn towards" your partner during these moments, to be emotionally available, rather than turning away from them, emotionally disconnecting from them. Even if your relationship has become disconnected already, learn how to start building more intimacy and closeness. 

Stephanie Cook, LCSW, therapist and writer, discusses what "turning towards your partner" is, what it looks like, and how to get help if you think too much "turning away" is happening in your relationship.

Dr. John Gottman's most famous book is based on his 40 years of relationship research: "Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work". Stephanie Cook, LCSW, discusses some of the findings of Gottman's research, including an introduction into these principles, which she uses to help couples, married or not, with the many difficulties related to conflict, communication, intimacy, and strategies for creating happy long-term romantic relationship.

What are the warning signs of emotional abuse in a relationship? Do you know what it looks like? Stephanie Cook, LCSW, explains 

What does emotional abuse look like in romantic relationships? In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October), Stephanie Cook, LCSW, discusses how emotional abuse develops, what it looks like, and how to get help if you think it exists in your relationship.

#BreakTheSilence #DomesticViolence #ShareYourStory #Awareness

In honor of World Mental Health Day, Stephanie explains the essential components of mental health and wellness, including healthy coping techniques and self care, as well as the symptoms of mental health problems and burnout.

Stephanie discusses how to stop yourself from engaging in the types of habits that sabotage your relationship, especially when it's most difficult; when you are highly emotional, seeing red, or vulnerable to making bad decisions. We've all been there. You're hurt. You're angry. You're at risk for saying or doing something you can't un-say. Learn how to stop it.

Stephanie Cook, LCSW, discusses the relationship-destroying behaviors that most couples are guilty of, and that couples therapists are always looking for. Stephanie also discusses how famous researcher and psychologist, Dr. John Gottman, found that the presence of these "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" can predict a relationship collapse in 93% of couples.

Stephanie Cook, LCSW, explains what happens in healthy and not-so-healthy relationships after the infatuation stage of "falling in love", when healthy relationships shed fake closeness for authentic intimacy. Stephanie is the first certified Gottman Couples Therapist in Georgia, and owner fo Couples Counseling ATL, LLC, a small private practice exclusively dedicated to helping couples find real connection and lasting happiness using the world renowned Gottman Method Couples Therapy, a research-based approach to helping couples improve their relationships and beat the odds.

Stephanie Cook, LCSW, discusses the many reasons couples should consider online couples counseling and online marriage counseling.