At the conclusion of each Couples Intensive or Marriage Intensive, Hope Restored therapists recommend to couples that they consider who they might connect with for ongoing support and accountability following their Intensive. At Hope Restored we understand that a Couples Intensive or Marriage Intensive may be only the beginning of a process of change, recovery and healing. We try to be careful not to foster an expectation that time at an Intensive will be the only step necessary to turn the course of a relationship around.

In dating relationships, healthy communication is an essential part of resolving issues and building trust. When one party refuses to engage in dialogue, shutting down discussions and withholding responses, they are using a tactic called stonewalling. While it may seem like a protective move or a temporary escape from conflict, stonewalling is far more dangerous than it appears.

In a surprising development, delegates from Russia insists on “the family” as important to social and economic development in the agreements expected to be adopted at the Summit of the Future next week. While the Russian Federation is known to have staked out pro-family positions in the past, it is rare and perhaps unprecedented to see such insistence in a high-level negotiation at the UN General Assembly.