From time to time, a parent or a spouse will tell me that their child or partner “needs help.” But when I ask them why, they either don’t answer, or they say that they can’t get their loved one to … Continue reading →

As advances in medical science continue to extend the lives of Baby Boomers, people are often spending more years caring for their elderly parents than they spent raising their own children. Aging parents are all different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all … Continue reading →

Every year around Valentine’s Day, clients invariably ask me for insight into things that couples complain about the most – and there are so many: kids, money, in-laws (!); it’s tough to nail down. But if I had to, I … Continue reading →

It’s easy to be stressed these days. Even the simple act of turning on your TV can cause anxiety, so it’s important that your stress management skills are properly developed and maintained. Taking the time to enjoy life’s pleasures is … Continue reading →

January often signals the beginning of diets, exercise and pretty much anything else we might endure to justify unlimited eating from November through December. But before you do another pushup, maybe that sort of thing is OK – if the … Continue reading →

One of my favorites from the classic “Peanuts” comic strip is where the eternally grumpy Lucy Van Pelt suffered from “Post-Christmas Letdown” over gifts she didn’t get. It was hilarious and typical of the subtle lessons that many of these … Continue reading →

A visitor to my website writes that he has fallen in love with a woman who is fourteen years his senior. He tells me that he generally goes for people his own age, but that he’s never felt so good … Continue reading →

One of my favorites from the classic “Peanuts” comic strip is where the eternally grumpy Lucy Van Pelt suffered from “Post-Christmas Letdown” over gifts she didn’t get. It was hilarious and typical of the subtle lessons that many of these … Continue reading →

The New Year can be an opportunity to organize your schedule and prioritize your goals. But some get tripped up by making their schedules too inflexible. An organized schedule reflects an organized mind, but if you want to improve your … Continue reading →

‘Tiz the season! We all love the holiday camaraderie, but sometimes people will set their holiday expectations very high. Often too high. The requirement for “comfort and joy” can sometimes set the stage for tension, particularly among family and couples. … Continue reading →

Just when I start to wonder if my 20 years of writing this column has been worth it, I get an email like this: “Dear Dr. Hurd, I strive to live up to the ideals you promote in your column. … Continue reading →

It’s that time of year again, and so many people tell me how the process of gift selection and buying is stressful and/or downright unpleasant for them. (Not everybody does, mind you, but some definitely do.) There’s got to be … Continue reading →