Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft People initiate all kinds of conversations, usually with the expectation (even if unconsciously) that the conversation will be non-confrontational if not outright pleasant. The...
What’s Better Than Giving Your Partner A Maserati?
Marriage Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft Here’s a simple question for you: What’s the best way to express love to your spouse or partner? Many people in a long-term romantic relationship might immediately think of the amazing...
Does Your Partner Share Your Guiding Light?
Marriage Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft When young (and even not-so-young) people begin dating, it’s often with someone they’ve met through a common interest. They might belong to the same tennis club, or get to know each other...
Stressed At Work? Tips To Avoid Burnout
The ubiquitous use of new technology has become something of a cross between humorous and horrifying. Everyone from comedians to TV dramas are showing parodies of a crowd of young people all engrossed in their smartphones. People walking — not to mention driving —...
How To Avoid Traps That Can Kill A Relationship
As a Gottman-trained therapist, I find articles dealing with the Gottman Institute of particular interest and value. I advanced through Gottman Method Couples Therapy training — Levels 1, 2 & 3 — and appreciate how the training provides research-based strategies...
The Pyramid Of Success
America is a bit of a sports-loving country. That’s why the National Football League has almost reached the status of a religion, with devotees devoting long hours on Sunday to watch their teams with adoration. There are enormous positive side effects, of course, to a...
Better Sex At Any Age
Marriage Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft A lot of older people probably identify with the playwright George Bernard Shaw’s observation that youth is wasted on the young. The older you get the more you appreciate (and long for) the...
Some Kids Don’t Win At This Game
Family Counseling Insights brought to you by Patricia McTague-Loft In those innocent days before the internet existed, kids often filled their lazy summer afternoons playing everything from Monopoly to Creature Castle. Fast forward 50 years and kids are still enjoying...
Money Doesn’t Have To Be A Problem
Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft Ask anyone in a long-term relationship what they think most couples fight about. Giving perhaps the most predictable response imaginable, people invariably say “sex and money.” For good...
It Takes More Than A High IQ
Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft People generally recognize that the most successful people — from CEOs to politicians — are not necessarily the smartest person in the room. Often, they have that most elusive quality:...