Damian Duplechain - Author at The Center for Marriage and Family Relationships, Houston, TX

Why It’s So Important to Share Your Feelings In Writing

Damian Duplechain — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 13:09:16 +0000

Communication is key in relationships – you know that. But let’s talk about how you are communicating with your spouse. You probably talk to them at home or send them quick messages throughout the day. These things aren’t necessarily bad ideas, but they can get mundane. And if you’re not thinking, you might even communicate […]

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Create a Relationship Vision Together to Get on the Same Page

Damian Duplechain — Wed, 11 May 2022 20:37:56 +0000

As a Houston marriage counselor, I frequently hear couples say things like: “It feels like my partner and I want different things out of our relationship.” It’s true that we enter relationships with preconceptions. Our desires and experiences form these ideas even before the first “Hello.” Couples feel the shock of that unpleasant surprise when […]

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“It’s the Next Logical Step” and Other Wrong Reasons to Get Married

Damian Duplechain — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:30:08 +0000

People get married for lots of reasons. And just because your reasons differ from someone else, that doesn’t mean they are the wrong reasons to get married. In fact, it’s fair to say that every single person has reasons that are unique to them. That being said, this is one of the biggest decisions of […]

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Did You Know That Your People-Pleasing May Be Hurting Your Relationship?

Damian Duplechain — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:12:19 +0000

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Giving Your Relationship a Clean Slate

Damian Duplechain — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 17:59:32 +0000

When you have fallen into a pattern of negative habits and feelings of resentment toward each other, it’s easy to forget that you always have a choice – either keep working at it or walk away. In either scenario, however, you’re going to have to let the ill will go. You have to start with […]

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Parenting Issues in Houston During COVID? Conscious Parenting Makes a Difference

Damian Duplechain — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:00:50 +0000

If you have or have ever had kids in your home, you probably already know the joys of seeing your child learn and grow. But you also know there are moments where you want to scream in frustration. All of the changes associated with the pandemic amplify those negative moments. So it’s no surprise that, […]

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Fighting with Love… or How to “Fight Fair”- Part 1

Damian Duplechain — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:27:28 +0000

If we asked whether you and your spouse “fight fair,” what would you say? What would they say? What actions and reactions make for a fair fight in your opinion? Like everything else that ensures positive growth in a committed relationship – every couple’s answers to those questions are slightly different. Every couple fights, it’s […]

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Keep Your Marriage Fresh: Trying New Things Keeps the Spark Alive

Damian Duplechain — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 19:27:35 +0000

Finding someone who makes you happy is wonderful. It only makes sense that you’d want that happiness to last forever. The problem is that it’s all too easy to grow complacent and lose sight of what made you enjoy being with each other to begin with. Research shows that strong, long-lasting relationships are fed through […]

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New Year’s Resolutions for Your Relationship

Damian Duplechain — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 18:47:59 +0000

January 1, 2020 isn’t just the start of a new year. It’s the start of a new decade! This exciting milestone is the perfect time to start fresh, commit to healthy habits, and make goals for upcoming weeks, months, and even years. We all know the most common New Year’s Resolutions: lose weight, quit smoking, […]

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Why A Couples Retreat Is the Best Way to Focus on Your Marriage

Damian Duplechain — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 15:00:21 +0000

There have been countless funny movies and television episodes made about couples workshops and retreats. Usually, the frustrated couple heads to a luxurious destination with a kooky therapist. Even though both partners are hesitant at first, their relationship grows stronger in the end. Real couples retreats typically have quite a few differences. They don’t have […]

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Why You Should Focus on Solvable Issues First

Damian Duplechain — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:00:26 +0000

According to a study recently published in Family Process, it is the way we argue that makes a difference in whether we believe ourselves to be happy in our relationships. Essentially, couples who tend to maintain a solution-oriented approach when facing conflict are happier than those who don’t. This study also found that the longer […]

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How Telling Your Partner When You’re Mad Can Actually Help Your Relationship

Damian Duplechain — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 19:05:14 +0000

Part of a life-partnership is accepting all of the emotions that come with it… yours and your spouse’s. However, in a culture that espouses kindness, empathy, and unfaltering regard, of course, it’s often a reflex to deny any negative feelings. No, you don’t feel like ripping his head off for losing the keys… again. Why […]

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What You and Your Partner Can Do to Move Past Sore Points

Damian Duplechain — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 14:00:34 +0000

Sometimes it’s hard to separate yourself from an emotionally-charged situation. Simple spats can spin out of control before we even realize what’s happening. This is particularly true when personal triggers are involved. We all have personal triggers – things that immediately put us on the defensive when we encounter them. Maybe your partner’s interest in […]

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Don’t Use These Phrases when Talking through a Conflict with Your Spouse

Damian Duplechain — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 19:19:31 +0000

When two partners are discussing a conflict, things can move faster than you can think. Emotions run high. And those feelings can run you into places that you don’t want to go. When this happens, we speak without thinking. We may say the first thing that comes to our mind. Even if what we say […]

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Dating Your Spouse Is More Than Just a Trivial Pursuit

Damian Duplechain — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 14:00:31 +0000

Great strides have been made in recent years in the scientific study of relationships in several areas. We better understand the strengths that enable life partners to lead fulfilling lives, bringing out the best attributes within one other, and we know how to help people enhance their life experiences. Imago Relationships Worldwide is the largest […]

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Why Your Marriage Needs a Weekend Getaway

Damian Duplechain — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:21:27 +0000

Take a look at your schedule. How much private time do you have with your partner this month? No kids, no work, no obligations. Do you even get a weekend of free time? If you’re like a lot of people, the answer is probably no. Life is full of demands. In the mornings, you and […]

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Clear Emotional Clutter by Spring Cleaning for Your Relationship

Damian Duplechain — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:00:34 +0000

Houston residents don’t exactly have to battle bitter cold, but we too enjoy the rising temperatures and blooming flowers of spring. And while “spring cleaning” can feel like a cliche, it’s a yearly habit for a good reason. As we shake off our coats and start to open the windows, we have the opportunity to […]

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4 Tips for Staying in Love for the Long Term

Damian Duplechain — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 19:58:23 +0000

Long-term marital bliss doesn’t occur passively. People have to actively look for ways to stay in love. As a Houston relationship therapist, I’ve seen that couples who are willing to put in the effort are most often rewarded by a deeper, long-lasting relationship. Here are four essential factors that can help keep you in love […]

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Start the New Year Right by Revisiting Your Past Together

Damian Duplechain — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 20:38:00 +0000

During a rough patch, well-meaning friends and family may offer up the cliché advice, “Think about why you fell in love in the first place.” Well, clichés usually exist because there is at least a grain of truth to them! As an experienced Houston relationship counselor, I can assure you that there’s a silo-full of […]

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Harnessing the Power of Response with Your Partner

Damian Duplechain — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 14:00:29 +0000

“How was your day?” “Fine.” “My boss was a real jerk.” “Oh yeah?” “Yeah. She made some errors, and now she’s demanding that my entire department come in over the weekend to clean up her mess. I kind of want to refuse. Stand up for myself. But I’m worried about getting in trouble.” “Huh.” “Okay. […]

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