Courtship is a Ritual

According to the Oxford Dictionary, courtship is “a period during which a couple develops a romantic relationship, especially with a view to marriage.” I immediately wish to point out that the final couple of words do not say “especially with a view to get married.” Rather, it actually states “especially with a view to marriage!”…

Why See a Life Coach

Most of us run into problems or get stuck wrestling with an issue that we really want to ask someones perspective, get some good unbiased advice, or even have a safe place to unpack current life stressors. Psychotherapists are licensed counselors that can explore mental illness, look into early childhood attachment breaches, explore traumas from…

“Spring Cleaning Your Marriage”

By Chad Olson When I was growing up, I knew that every spring at the Olson household we would have a major cleaning session. It was time to dejunk, get organized and deep clean for the coming year because the house and yard tended to get neglected during the long winter. As I reflect upon…

Spring into Relationships

The winter months bring shorter daylight hours, less outdoor recreation for many, our marriages can be lulled to sleep if we aren’t careful. If you’re experiencing the hypnotic feeling of being in a “relationship rut” that you can’t escape I have five ideas for you to use as a wake up call for your most…

Life Coaching vs. Therapy

One of the most common misconceptions about life coaching is that it is “therapy in disguise.” In reality, life coaching is truly its own unique service and is designed to help ambitious achievers meet the outcomes that will bring them success and fulfillment. The list below highlights the differences between life coaching and therapy. It…

What Makes a Real Leader?

I once read a comment about leadership that changed the way I thought about the topic: Leadership includes both what you do and what you leave.  This simple, yet profound statement has changed not only the way I view leadership, but has actually changed the way I lead. All too often I believe we put…

The Secret to Marital Success

When a client comes in for their first session, I always ask them what goals they have for therapy or what they would like to accomplish as a result of coming to counseling. Clients will often say, “I just want to be successful.” That success could be accomplished through their job, projects, hobbies, relationships or…

“How to Successfully Buy Happiness”

Most believe that happiness is one of the primary purposes of life, but there are varied theories on how to experience the most happiness. This topic is intriguing to me so I did a little research into various beliefs about happiness. I was fascinated by the findings of a psychologist named Thomas Gilovich, who found…

Summer: Creating a Magical Experience

Summer: Creating a Magical Experience The year was 1972 in St. George Utah. I was out of school for the summer. Second grade was behind me. I had all summer to get myself ready for the rigors of third grade! I remember riding my bicycle, by myself, to Ben Franklin – the store on Bluff…