LoveBonds

Affair triads involve three people: One who is in a committed relationship or marriage and who engages in secret intimacy outside of the relationship. The partner or spouse in a committed relationship or marriage whose partner or spouse interacts with someone outside the marriage or relationship intimately and in secret. The person outside a committed relationship or marriage who is intimately and secretly involved with someone in a committed relationship or marriage. Upon discovery, each person experiences pain, confusion and heartache — and a myriad of other difficult emotions — based on their position in the triad. A psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Dr. Sarah Fajenbaum-Teslja, and relationship counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC, shed light on infidelity's misunderstood aspects. Together, they provide a novel framework for understanding its cause. They explore the unique perspective - and emotional pain - of each person in the affair triad.

In this first episode of this three-part series, Dr. Sarah Fajgenba⁠urm-Teslja⁠ and ⁠Terri DiMatteo, LPC⁠ discuss trauma and treatment for individuals in committed relationships or marriages whose spouse or partner intimately engages with another outside their relationship or marriage.

Do you find dating challenging, confusing, or puzzling? As a licensed therapist, dating coach, and matchmaker in New Jersey, Julianne Canterella provides expert advice to those seeking a fulfilling dating experience! Visit her website at https://juliannecantarella.com/ Facebook Linkedin

Does your spouse or partner constantly criticize you, sulk, take credit for your ideas, display incongruent words and actions, exhibit silent rage, and withhold praise and recognition? If so, you may be in a relationship with a #covert passive-aggressive #narcissist. In this episode author Debbie Mirza shares her personal story, helps listeners identify #covertnarcissism and ways to heal. To learn more about Debbie, purchase her books and discover helpful, healing resources visit ⁠www.debbiemirza.com⁠

Many misconceptions exist about love, relationships, infidelity, and relationship repair. In this episode, New Jersey couple therapist and affair recovery counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy in Princeton, NJ. This enlightening interview with Sonia Schnee, Founder, and Owner of Jersey Indie, covers the following: Why is 'communication' not the critical ingredient to a romantic relationship? What defines a romantic relationship? What is a bond of intimacy? What is emotional regulation, and why is it so important? What is the leading cause of infidelity? Listeners will surely find these eye-opening and insightful ideas about love, romance, and infidelity captivating and helpful!

It's no secret that the pandemic has had a wide-ranging effect on romantic relationships, including new romantic relationships. The Turbo Relationship is a term used to describe new relationships that formed during the pandemic that moved quickly toward commitment. The rapid commitment speed in a pandemic environment has both short- and long-term effects on the couple, as you'll learn from our guest on the topic, Dr. Mayi Dixon. Dr. Mayi Dixon of Innovative Counseling Solutions is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. In this episode, she addresses the many facets of the turbo relationship. She offers insightful guidance for couples in these pandemic-driven accelerated relationships. You can learn more about her services at premaritalbliss.com Dr. Dixon is the host of The PreMarital Bliss Podcast. You can connect with her on these social media platforms: LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Pinterest

The real secret to a long-term, satisfying and fulfilling relationship is in how a couple restores their relationship following conflict. This is an introduction to an upcoming series on The Art of Relationship Repair by relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy. To receive the series subscribe to the newsletter, LoveBonds at opendoortherapy.net

Communicating with your most important person can be challenging. You want and need their focused attention. When you lose it, panic can set in. To help ensure that you have your spouse or partner’s undivided attention, master the higher-level communication skill explained in this important episode.

The holidays add additional stress due to the extra chores, travel, and extended family relations. This year - due to the pandemic - it’s holiday stress is on steroids! As a result, it’s more important than ever that you and your beloved safeguard and protect your very precious relationship. You need one another more than ever. This episode provides ideas, suggestions, and techniques for staying close, and connected during these very trying times.

Some people debate what’s worse: an emotional affair or a sexual affair. Generally, these opinions tend to be driven by personal relationship values. At the same time, there are differences between the emotional affairs and sexual affairs. Have a listen as affair recovery expert Terri DiMatteo, LPC unpacks it all for you!

One barrier to obtaining relationship satisfaction is not really knowing what a healthy, satisfying, and loving relationship really is. The romantic relationship serves a specific purpose and function that mystifies and confuses many. Marriage and relationship counselor Terri DiMatteo of Open Door Therapy demystifies the healthy relationship so that you can identify it and achieve it for yourself.

There’s no question that the pandemic is adding additional stress and strain in romantic relationships. This episode will address those strains to help you increase empathy and understanding to enjoy a deeper, more meaningful connection with your spouse or partner.

Though rare, there are occasions when a committed relationship or marriage emerges out of an affair relationship. Unions born of an affair face unique challenges - and it's probably not what you think! Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo of Open Door Therapy specializes in helping couples restore in the aftermath of an affair. She is well-versed in the layers of complexity involved in the affair triad.

The family you grew up in has a profound impact on your current love relationship. Your first family teaches you about love and conflict. Examining the ways in which your family has impacted you -- and the effect your partner or spouse's family has had on him or her -- can have a profound effect on helping each of you gain a better understanding of the intricacies of your relationship. Couples Counselor Terri DiMatteo of Open Door Therapy breaks it down for you in an easy to understand manner.

Do fights over the dishes, laundry, groceries, or other small matters quickly turn to major blows? What's that all about? Why can't we just put up a to-do list and resolve it all logically? Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo of Open Door Therapy helps you understand why this happens so that you can say good-bye to big blowouts over the little things.

Most people think that when it comes to romantic relationships “communication” is key and work hard to communicate more effectively. Unfortunately, that's not what's needed. Emotional smarts are what's needed. Learn ways to 'up your game' when it comes to emotionally tuning into your partner and having them effectively tune into you. Master this and you'll reap the rewards of relationship fulfillment.

Do you find that you and your partner are constantly squabbling over small matters? Underneath it all, there is usually a deeper concern. Most worry that a partner may not really love them, have their back, or really care. It's easy to feel alone in the relationship. Changing just one simple thing can help move your relationship from adversity to connection. Listen now to discover the one simple thing you can do right now that can have a profound effect.

It’s been rough. The pandemic is putting a strain on the best of relationships. Talking about simple matters can quickly become tense and escalate. This episode provides proven techniques to calm tensions so that you and your partner can talk to one another to address the matters at hand.

Lounging around in your jammies and joggers with overgrown hair and a bucket full of worries is hardly the recipe for feeling amorous! None of this is conducive to feeling sexy, romantic, flirty or fun. The pandemic may be taking a disastrous toll on your sex life, and ultimately on your relationship. If so, it's time to turn things around and place your sex life front and center! Listen now to find out why you should prioritize your sex life, how it can be done and the benefits you'll reap when you do.

Research shows that what separates couples that are in long-lasting satisfying relationships from those that are not engage in a particular interaction! Tune in to discover the magic to satisfying long-lasting love and connection.

No matter your situation, your relationship is likely under enormous stress and strain right now and could use a little help! In this episode you’ll learn the one thing you can do right now to see your relationship safely to the other side of this pandemic.

What is couples counseling, and how does it work? How can a couple tell if relationship counseling is effective? This episode identifies the four most common reasons that couples seek professional relationship care, defines the primary aim of couple counseling, and provides ways to assess if the therapy is helping. Listeners can enhance their understanding of this episode by also listening to LoveBonds Episode 118, ‘The Function of the Romantic Relationship’ and Episode 101, ‘How Love Helps Manage Difficult Emotions.’

You and your spouse or partner are in a romantic relationship — so where’s the romance? Whether it comes easily, or needs a bit of effort, this episode is for you! Learn ways to go beyond superficial niceties or simply giving your partner a compliment. In this episode you will discover ways to go deeper— to emotionally move your partner so that they not only feel loved and desired but are more likely to respond to you lovingly and with desire!

Even in the best of circumstances with a lot of agreement between partners, divorce is never easy. It is regarded as one of life’s most stressful and painful experiences. So what can ease the pain and see you through? Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo shares a few ideas that can help.

A New Jersey relationship and couple counselor shares relationship insights and observations based on the show ‘Married at First Sight’ — where brides and grooms meet each other for the first time at the altar!

Is the absence of fighting or simply ‘getting along’ indicative of a healed relationship? How about enjoying one another or being polite? How much does mutually expressing fondness and admiration go? Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo provides you with clear insights on how to assess relationship restoration.

The future of a relationship is no longer certain upon the discovery of an affair. Four key elements help determine the likelihood that a relationship that has been traumatized by infidelity can endure.  Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy in Westfield, NJ, will help in determining the survivability of a relationship impacted by infidelity. 

Do you refer to your partner as your 'best friend'?  On the surface, this seems fine enough. After all, best friends are generally close confidants that enjoy one another. There's a warmth, familiarity and camaraderie between close friends - so what could possibly be amiss in referencing your partner as your 'bestie'?  Listen as relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo unpacks the reasons why the 'best friend' model doesn't work for romantic pairs and suggests another relationship model that is more akin to the romantic relationship.

We've all heard relationship advice, have seen relationship memes on social media and have heard 'tips' and 'dos and don'ts' when it comes to the romantic relationship: but what are these ideas and suggestions based on? Many of these suggestions imply that if just one person in the relationship would make changes, the relationship would improve.  Unfortunately, many such notions add to the confusion and misunderstanding already surrounding romantic relationships. Before you can restore or repair a romantic relationship you need to know what its function is, how it works and what it's supposed to do for you.  Relationship and couple counselor, Terri DiMatteo of Open Door Therapy in Westfield, New Jersey unpacks it all in an easy to understand and helpful way. 

We've all heard it. We've heard it among friends. We've heard it at social gatherings. We've heard it on the television and among relationship experts  - 'once a cheater, always a cheater'.  Is is true?  This episode provides an in-depth exploration of the old adage 'once a cheater, always a cheater'.  

Online dating is easy, convenient and popular. Many a pair have met, fallen in love and married through online dating apps - so what's wrong with meeting people through dating apps? Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy shares ways in which online dating works against building a safe and trusting romantic relationship. 

The discovery of an affair immediately catapults a couple into a relationship crisis. The future of the relationship is no longer guaranteed as the couple asks themselves, "Can we survive this?" The task of rebuilding trust and safety is daunting. Listen as affair recovery expert Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy unpacks a particularly tricky challenge in affair recovery.

If you're in a shiny new relationship and things are going great, you might be wondering if he or she be 'the one.' Does your new relationship have enough of the right stuff to go the distance? Is it too early to tell? Here's a quick - but effective - way to determine if your new relationship might have genuine, long-lasting potential.

It's no secret that all relationships experience conflict and periods of disconnect. While these experiences are considered typical, how can you tell when enough is enough, and it may be time to call it quits? Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy offers a few indications that a relationship may be reaching the breaking point.

We've all seen the magazine headlines, celebrity gossip stories, politicians who cheat and have listened to the experts that portray infidelity in  trite and predictable ways.  Our culture tends to simplify and trivialize each person within the affair triad. In fact, the language of affairs also contributes to infidelity misunderstanding.  Popular notions suggest that:  The one who engaged in the infidelity is portrayed as a heartless, immoral villain and is labeled "The Cheater".  The one who's partner strayed is portrayed as an innocent victim who was wronged and made no contribution to the relationship crisis of infidelity.  This party gets labeled "The Betrayed Partner". The outside party is demonized as an immoral, sex-crazed home-wrecker and is labeled "The Mistress". (NOTE: There is no gender-parallel term for a male affair-partner). Are these portrayals accurate? Are the roles cast in concrete? Infidelity and affair recovery expert, Terri DiMatteo, LPC  challenges these conventional notions and offers a deeper, more comprehensive understanding. 

Love and relationships have their challenges but when the romantic partner is a personality disordered psychopath the challenges are steep.  Not for the faint of heart, this episode presents an in-depth discussion on being in a relationship with the personality disordered with Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Steve Becker. Steve has over twenty years of experience and specializes in narcissistic spectrum personality disorders.   Steve is the author of "The Inner World of the Psychopath: A Definitive Primer on the Psychopathic Personality" available on Amazon.   Visit Steve's website www.powercommunicating.com  Visit Steve's YouTube Channel Steve Becker, LCSW

What is a couple to do when infidelity occurs before getting married? Mayi Dixon, LPC host of Anchor's "The PreMarital Bliss Podcast" interviews relationship and couples counselor Terri DiMatteo. The two discuss the unique concerns that occur when infidelity happens before getting married. What needs to be considered? What is the best way forward? You can learn more about Mayi by visiting her website www.innovcounseling.com and by listening to her at "The PreMarital Bliss Podcast" on Apple Podcasts here. 

Do you still occasionally think about a romantic someone special from your past? Do you sometimes wonder 'what if?' even though many years have passed and each of you has 'moved on'? Does a special past person still hold a tender place in your heart? If so, perhaps you have experienced a love that's been interrupted rather than a break-up. This episode is based on the fascinating research on lost love by Dr. Nancy Kalish.

Infidelity is a relationship trauma that hurts. Affairs require lies and deception to occur. The paid and suffering in the aftermath lingers a lifetime. With all of that, is there anything about infidelity that 'makes sense'? Is there any logic to it? Relationship and couples counselor, Terri DiMatteo, LPC discusses the ways in which infidelity 'makes sense' with Dini of Vigilantes Radio on the "Inside The Biz" Series.

It is a common misconception that a relationship lacking in conflict is desirable. Many couples that find themselves in couples counseling report, "we never fight." Although they are experiencing angst, they don't engage in conflict. What is the problem with having a "conflict-free" relationship and "getting alone"? Trusted relationship and couple counselor, Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy lays out why going 'conflict-free' actually does more harm than good for a relationship.

Did your partner cheat on you? Are you sure? Does one of you think the other one cheated, and you can't agree that cheating has taken place? Which behaviors constitute infidelity? Is kissing another an act of betrayal? Is excessive texting or emotional sharing with another infidelity? Is there an identifiable line? How can it be so confusing? Affair recovery expert Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy, clears up the confusion for you!

The first task in affair recovery is to fully and permanently conclude the relationship with the outside party or the affair-partner. Full affair recovery cannot truly take place while a spouse or committed partner remains in contact with the affair-partner. While this task can occur expediently, more often than not, it is usually a challenging process that often comes with some backsliding. This stage of affair recovery is a complex and highly misunderstood process. How "no contact" takes place is critical. Listen now to part one of a three-part segment on "The Complex Challenges of 'No Contact' With the Affair Partner" as explained by affair recovery expert, Terri DiMatteo, LPC.

The first task in affair recovery is to fully and permanently conclude the relationship with the outside party or the affair-partner. Full affair recovery cannot truly take place while a spouse or committed partner remains in contact with the affair-partner. While this task can occur expediently, more often than not, it is usually a challenging process that often comes with some backsliding. This stage of affair recovery is a complex and highly misunderstood process. How "no contact" takes place is critical. Listen now to part one of a three-part segment on "The Complex Challenges of 'No Contact' With the Affair Partner" as explained by affair recovery expert, Terri DiMatteo, LPC.

The first task in affair recovery is to fully and permanently conclude the relationship with the outside party or the affair-partner. Full affair recovery cannot truly take place while a spouse or committed partner remains in contact with the affair-partner. While this task can occur expediently, more often than not, it is usually a challenging process that often comes with some backsliding. This stage of affair recovery is a complex and highly misunderstood process. How "no contact" takes place is critical. Listen now to part one of a three-part segment on "The Complex Challenges of 'No Contact' With the Affair Partner" as explained by affair recovery expert, Terri DiMatteo, LPC.

There are many notions about why people have affairs that suggest an evolutionary predisposition, that partners who stray are immoral individuals without conscience or that society and culture are to blame. Affair recovery expert Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy, has quite a different thought on the matter, and what she has to say about why people have affairs surprise you!

When asked what a relationship is for, most people respond that it's for companionship, sharing tasks and sexual intimacy. While those things are true, romantic loves serves a greater purpose. Romantic love has a very significant purpose and function. Specifically, is designed to help partners regulate difficult emotions and it serves as a buffer from the stresses and strains of life. Getting that functionality right is key to relationship satisfaction! Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy breaks it down. Listen now!