I distinctly remember the first time I heard about someone I knew who took their own life. I was in the 7th grade and he went to my school. He was a few years older than me – a sophmore in highschool, a varsity athlete with a pretty girlfriend and lots of friends – he seemed to have it all […]
Congratulations, you are engaged! Now comes the fun part where you get to plan your day to be exactly as you and your fiancé want it to go…or do you? As with any life transition, many friends and family will offer advice and suggestions to help you plan your special day. But who’s opinion carries the most weight? What do […]
Have you ever seen those romantic engagement photos or videos of creative proposals? They’re all over my social media—two people in love, diving into commitment for a happily ever after. Their posts make me feel warm and happy. Good for them, happily ever after – isn’t that what we all want? Unfortunately, there is a time between engagement and the […]
I remember when I was in middle school, dreaming about the day I would get engaged and the perfect wedding I would have. When you’re 10 you don’t understand that getting engaged is not all about the ring, flowers and fancy wedding gifts. When a couple chooses to become engaged they are agreeing to be the other’s life partner, emotionally […]
You’d be surprised at how often I hear a client say, “I just assumed,” “I thought,” “I know how my partner is” or “It’s so obvious.” These are key indicators people are operating on assumptions rather than fact and understanding. Assumptions can be dangerous to relationships. We assume we know what someone else is thinking, trying to say or what […]
Have you ever gotten the sense that someone is mad at you and they haven’t said a word? Or maybe you’ve felt terrified but thought you were hiding it, only for everyone to notice? Have you argued with your partner without knowing how it started, just from them asking “what’s wrong?”, and you simply replied with “Nothing.” We constantly communicate […]
As a therapist, one of the most common questions I’m asked is the secret to a good relationship. People want to know what they can do or say that will quickly and drastically impact their relationship. Usually when people ask this, say at a grocery store or dinner party, I will laugh and slowly change the subject because the answer […]
One of the biggest issues couples who come to therapy are experiencing is the inability to communicate effectively. Whether it be about kids, finances, in-laws, faith, or sex – if a couple is coming into counseling they almost always identify communication as one of the things they want to improve and a reason behind many of their problems. Recently a […]
As the days grow longer and warmer, our children begin to get more and more excited as they look forward to summer break! Who wouldn’t be excited about warm weather, fun actives, exciting trips and sleeping in? Some parents share their child’s enthusiasm but for other parents the thought of those long summer days without the distraction and schedule of school leaves them […]
Hi, I'm Dr. Tabitha Johnson. I help individuals, couples & churches improve marriages with online courses, retreats & resources. © 2025 · The Marriage Doctor, LLC.