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It has been said that great relationships begin with great friendships. Whether those friendships advance to something more romantic or not–learning what it means to be a good friend is an important life lesson. Alvean and Doug discuss the hallmarks of friendship and how reciprocity and selflessness are characteristic of the committed partners.  For a complete transcript of this episode, click here: LL61-Are you a good friend?

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Alvean and Doug talk about what makes for true intimacy in a relationship.  For many people intimacy is code language for sex, but this is a very one dimensional view of something that encompasses a range of emotions and connections between people that can be entirely platonic or ragingly passionate.  For more about this episode a full transcript can be found here: LL60-What is Intimacy

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Is there such a thing as true love?  How do we recognize it and what are the lessons we can take from couples that have been so fortunate as to find someone they are committed to for life?  Alvean and Doug discuss these and other questions about the nature of love and commitment in this episode.  For a full transcript, click here:LL59-What has true love taught you?

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Is there a ‘use by’ date for marriage?  Do relationships sour if they fail to move to a next level?  These and other views about how love and bonding work are the topic of this episode as Doug & Alvean discuss how couples can take a long view of the ever changing ever evolving nature of their commitment to one another. For more about this episode and a full transcript, click here:LL58-Is there a use by date….

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Living in the past is an unhealthy and potentially destructive behavior.  We all have regrets at some point in our lives but no amount of emotional investment can change what has occurred.  Alvean and Doug discuss strategies for learning from our past experiences while avoiding the pitfalls of allowing our regrets to rob of us our happiness in the present. For more about this episode and a full transcript, click here: LL57-Your Biggest Regrets

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Raising children together can be one of the most rewarding things a couple can do but at times also the most challenging.  The challenges can be even greater when the children are not your own.  Alvean and Doug talk about emotional bonds that father and mothers have with their children and children of another partner and how you can cope with co-parenting when a divorce or re-marriage occurs due to the loss of a spouse. For a full transcript of this episode, click here: LL56-Relating to children from a prior relationship

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As we move though our lives our perspectives and emotional response to others and to life situations change–sometimes for the better and sometimes the worse. Alvean and Doug talk about how these changes affect us and how we can recognize their impact on our emotional health.  For a complete transcript, click here: LL55-How has your perspective changed with age?pdf

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Torn between two lovers is more than a song title–it is sometimes a reality and can lead to devastating consequences for everyone involved in a relationship triangle. In this episode Alvean and Doug discuss the challenges and chart a course to navigate the emotional seas.  For a full transcript of this episode, click here:LL54-You, Me and ………

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There are times when Men and Women can be opaque to one another–prompting a good deal of misunderstanding and emotional trial.  In this episode, Doug & Alvean explore the real feelings behind things men do say and don’t. Getting in touch with one’s feelings–expressing them to others is not a given and for men in particular an experience for which they may not be well prepared.  Whether you are a man who wants to learn how to better communicate your feelings or a woman trying to decipher what may be confusing signals, this episode can help.  For a full transcript, click here:LL53-What men rarely say but often feel

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Have you ever heard someone say this?  Maybe you have said it yourself after a period of unfortunate misses in the dating scene.   Alvean and Doug talk about the whys and the whos that we encounter while looking for our ideal mate and how we can sometimes sabotage ourselves along the way.  The answer is yes–there are good men and women out there but it matters a great deal whether you are looking in the right places and whether you are ready for the right one when they come along.  For more, click here fr a full transcript; LL52-Are there any good men or women out there?