How to Stop Nasty Arguments With Your Partner
When arguments turn hurtful, it's rarely about the topic at hand — it's your nervous system hijacking the conversation. Here's how to catch it before things go too far.
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Life is Messy
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Holly Sullivan, LCSW, gives guidance on real life issues and everyday struggles.
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Managing Holiday Stress as a Couple: Staying Connected Through the Chaos
The holidays are supposed to be joyful — but for many couples they're a pressure cooker. Here's how to protect your connection when the season turns up the heat.
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What Happens in Couples Therapy?
Nervous about your first session? Here's an honest walkthrough of what couples therapy actually looks like — what happens, what to expect, and what the process feels like from the inside.
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Is Disclosing Infidelity Recommended?
The question of whether to tell your partner about an affair is one of the most difficult a person can face. Here's what the research and clinical experience say.
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The Secret to Improving Your Relationship
It's not better communication skills. It's not more date nights. The research on what actually moves the needle in relationship satisfaction might surprise you.
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EMDR Therapy Explained: How It Heals Emotional Pain Faster Than Talk Therapy
EMDR is endorsed by the APA, WHO, and VA. Clients routinely report healing in fewer sessions than traditional therapy. Here's what the science says about why it works.
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How to Choose the Right Therapist in Phoenix, AZ — 7 Questions to Ask
The therapeutic relationship is the #1 predictor of treatment outcomes. Here's what to look for — and what red flags to avoid — when searching for a therapist in Phoenix.
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5 Signs Your Relationship Could Benefit from Couples Therapy in Phoenix
Couples therapy isn't only for relationships in crisis. In fact, the earlier you start, the better the outcomes. Here are five signs it might be time to reach out.
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Therapy in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe & Surrounding Communities
Wondering whether Holly's practice serves your area? This guide covers in-person and telehealth availability across the entire greater Phoenix metro.
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What to Expect at Your First Therapy Session in Phoenix
Nervous about starting therapy? This honest, reassuring walkthrough covers exactly what happens in session one — so you can arrive prepared and at ease.
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Telehealth Therapy in Arizona: Is Online Counseling Right for You?
Online therapy has transformed access to mental health care in Arizona. Learn what the research says about effectiveness, who it's best for, and how a session actually works.
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5 Signs Your Relationship Needs Help
Contempt, criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling — these aren't just bad habits. They're warning signs that something deeper needs attention before the distance becomes permanent.
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Setting Boundaries and Staying Connected: How to Navigate In-Laws During the Holidays
Holiday family gatherings can trigger old wounds and new conflicts. Here's how to stay united as a couple while navigating complex in-law dynamics.
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3 Unexpected Ways Couples Therapy Can Help Your Relationship
Most couples are surprised by what therapy actually does. It's not about taking sides or learning scripts — it's about understanding what's really happening beneath the surface.
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Navigating the Impact of ADHD on Relationships
ADHD doesn't just affect the individual — it shapes the entire relationship dynamic. Understanding how to build structure and compassion together makes all the difference.
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How Does My Attachment Style Affect My Relationship?
Anxious? Avoidant? Secure? Your early attachment experiences shape how you connect — and disconnect — with your partner today. Here's what that means for your relationship.
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PTSD Symptoms: When Trauma Needs More Than Time to Heal
"Time heals all wounds" is not always true for trauma. Learn the key symptoms of PTSD, how it develops, and why evidence-based treatment like EMDR gets results that waiting alone cannot.
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3 Reasons Why Couples Therapy Isn't Working for You
If you've tried couples therapy and felt like nothing changed, you're not alone. The problem often isn't you — it's the approach. Here's what to look for instead.
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Is Stress Ruining Your Relationship?
External stress doesn't stay outside the relationship — it comes home with you. Learn how stress hijacks your nervous system and three exercises to reconnect with your partner.
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The Surprising Truth About Scheduling Sex
Scheduling intimacy sounds unromantic — but the research suggests it's one of the most effective ways long-term couples maintain a satisfying physical connection.
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Can EFT Help My Relationship?
Emotionally Focused Therapy has a 70–75% success rate for couples in distress. Here's what it actually does, and whether it's the right fit for where you are right now.
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Stuck on Repeat? The Real Reason Couples Have the Same Fight Over and Over
It's never really about the dishes. Recurring arguments are symptoms of an underlying cycle — and until you address the cycle itself, the fights won't stop.
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What Is Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples? Can EFT Fix My Relationship?
EFT is one of the most thoroughly researched couples therapies in existence. Here's what it is, how it works, and what it can and can't do for your relationship.
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Financial Intimacy: How to Talk About Money With Your Partner
Money fights are rarely about money. They're about security, control, and trust. Here's how to have financial conversations that bring you closer instead of tearing you apart.
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How to Navigate Political Differences in Your Relationship
Political disagreements can feel existential — but they don't have to end your relationship. Here are 11 strategies for couples with different views to stay connected.
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From Roommates to Romance: How to Fix Relationship Disconnection
If your relationship feels more like a co-parenting arrangement or a business partnership than a romance, you're not alone. Here's how couples find their way back.
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Can Individual Therapy Help My Relationship Issues?
Your partner won't go to couples therapy — now what? Individual therapy can still address relationship patterns. Here's what it can and can't do.
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Relationship Green Flags: 5 Signs of a Healthy Relationship
We talk a lot about red flags — but what does a genuinely healthy relationship actually look like? Here are five green flags backed by attachment research.
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How to De-escalate a Heated Argument with Your Partner
When a fight starts escalating, most couples keep pushing — which makes things worse. Here's a practical, research-backed approach to cooling things down before real damage is done.
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Do We Need Couples Therapy?
Not every couple in therapy is in crisis. But many wait too long. Here's an honest assessment of when couples therapy helps — and what the research says about timing.
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How to Navigate Major Life Transitions as a Couple and Grow Stronger
New baby, job loss, empty nest, illness — major changes stress even the strongest relationships. Here's how to stay on the same team when life throws everything at you.
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Top 4 Myths About Romance
Hollywood got it wrong. The ideas most of us grew up with about romance are quietly sabotaging real relationships. Here's what the science says instead.
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Holly Sullivan, LCSW is accepting new clients in Phoenix, AZ and via telehealth across Arizona. Schedule a confidential consultation today.