FEATURED BLOG ARTICLES
BLOGS
Practical ideas for relationships, couples therapy, and the life situations that can be hard to figure out on your own.
Practical ideas for relationships, couples therapy, and the life situations that can be hard to figure out on your own.
FEATURED BLOG ARTICLES
BLOGS
Practical ideas for relationships, couples therapy, and the life situations that can be hard to figure out on your own.
Now authorized to see clients in the 44 states shaded in dark blue
Why Does My Partner Get Defensive Every Time I Bring Something Up?
You bring up something that's been bothering you. Before you've finished explaining, your partner interrupts to tell you that you've got part of the story wrong. They start explaining what really happened and why they're not to blame. You try to explain that you're...
Why Do We Keep Having the Same Fight?
It started because you wanted to say something. You’ve been noticing that your partner seemed genuinely excited about plans with friends, and you couldn’t remember the last time they seemed that excited about spending time with you. Or something happened with the kids...
Is It Relationship Anxiety, or Is Something Really Wrong?
You love your partner. And there's a lot that's good between you. And yet, anxiety keeps pulling your attention toward everything that could go wrong. That can be really confusing. Part of you trusts your partner. Another part keeps asking whether you're missing...
Can Couples Therapy Help When Only One Partner Thinks There’s a Problem?
You’ve noticed that something between you doesn’t feel quite right. You’re having the same conversation over and over, and it never seems to go anywhere. You miss how close you used to feel. Things look fine from the outside, but inside the relationship, you feel...
Does Dr. Kristin Barnhart Still Offer Relationship Coaching?
If you've found older articles, worksheets, or relationship resources online, you may be wondering whether I still offer relationship coaching. The short answer is no. And here's the good news. Today, my work is dedicated entirely to providing online therapy through...
Why You Fight With Your Partner After Seeing Family
You went to a family thing. Maybe it was dinner, a birthday, a holiday, or a quick visit that somehow took up most of the afternoon. Nothing huge happened. At least, not in a way that would sound dramatic if you tried to explain it later. No one yelled or stormed out....
What to Do When Your Fiancé Won’t Stand Up to Their Family
Your fiancé’s mom family questions another wedding decision. You look to your fiancé, hoping they’ll say something, but they stay quiet. Later, they say they didn’t want to create tension. Then they remind you that this is simply how their family communicates. You’re...
Wedding Day Anxiety: A Guide for the Bride Who Feels Overwhelmed
Are there therapists specializing in wedding day anxiety available for virtual sessions? Yes. Some therapists help brides and grooms with wedding day anxiety, and many offer virtual sessions. You may not see wedding day anxiety listed as a formal specialty, so look...
I’m Getting Married This Year, and Family Pressure Is Already Starting
You’re getting married this year, and suddenly everyone has thoughts. Your mom has feelings about the guest list. Your future in-laws have opinions about traditions. Someone wants to invite “just a few more people.” Someone else thinks the shower should be handled...
Do You Accept Insurance for Couples Counseling?
If you’re looking for couples counseling, one of the first things you may want to ask is, “Do you accept insurance?” That’s such a normal question to ask. Most people want to understand the cost before they take the next step. The simple answer is that many clients...
The #1 Couples Therapy Trend for 2026: Why Couples Are Starting Before Marriage
I’ve been noticing something in my work lately, and it honestly makes me feel hopeful. More couples are coming to therapy early.Before marriage.Before things feel heavy.Before they’re in survival mode. Not because something is “wrong.” But because they don’t want to...
Valentine’s Day and Mental Health: Real Talk
You wake up and your feed is full of roses and champagne. Meanwhile your real morning looks like coffee in a hoodie and a text that says, “Are we doing anything tonight?” If that’s you, take a breath. You’re human. And this is where Valentine’s Day and mental health...
Symptoms of Secondary Trauma: How News Exposure Can Affect Your Body, Mood, and Relationship
For some people, this has been building over time. For others, it’s felt close to the surface for a long time. It’s not just one upsetting story. It’s the steady drip of hard things, and the way they keep finding us. And we’re seeing more than we used to. People film...
5 Hidden Effects of Anxiety on Relationships: What Every Couple Should Know
It started with a sock drawer. Samantha had been feeling on edge for months. Irritated by small things, easily overwhelmed, and always waiting for the next shoe to drop. Her husband, Marcus, tried to be supportive. But on a rainy Tuesday morning, as he searched...
Struggling as Newlyweds? Do this During the first 6 months of marriage
Do you ever catch yourself glaring at the socks on the floor or the pile of dishes in the sink, wondering how you went from wedding bliss to barely speaking before coffee? If you’re shocked that this kind of tension is showing up so soon after “I do,” I’m here to give...
The Couple’s Guide to Setting Boundaries for Wedding Planning, Honeymoon & Beyond (And Why It Matters)
The Identity Shift No One Talks About (But Everyone Feels) You’re in love, planning a wedding, and trying to dodge a minefield of opinions, advice, and unsolicited Pinterest boards. All while holding onto your relationship and keeping your sense of humor. Whether...
The Ultimate Blueprint for Living with Anxiety
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night with your heart pounding so loudly you can almost hear it in your ears. Your stomach feels like a roller-coaster that never ends. You sit up and whisper to yourself, “What does anxiety feel like? Is this it?” For many of us...
12 Reasons Couples Go to Therapy in the Spring
Spring is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh starts—a perfect time to nurture your relationship. Just like we declutter our homes and refresh our routines, this season invites us to reflect on our relationships and strengthen the foundation we share with our...
Is Premarital Counseling Right for You? A Fun & Insightful Guide for Dating Couples
So, you’re in love. You’re spending weekends binge-watching your favorite shows, finishing each other’s sentences, and dreaming about a future together. But deep down, you might also be wondering—are we truly compatible long-term? Can we navigate life’s challenges...
How to Help Your Partner When They’re Feeling Anxious
Anxiety doesn’t just affect the person experiencing it—it impacts their partner and the relationship they share. If you love someone who struggles with anxiety, you may feel helpless at times, unsure of what to say or do to ease their distress. You want to be...
HELP! I’m Christian and I Feel Anxious
If you've ever felt anxious and then immediately thought, Wait, I'm a Christian—I shouldn't feel this way. You're not alone. I’ve had those thoughts and feelings too. Many believers wrestle with anxiety, and it can be especially challenging when we read scriptures...
Surviving (and Thriving) in February: Hacks for Navigating Valentine’s Day Stress
Ah, February—the month of love, or so Hallmark and every romantic comedy ever made would have you believe. For singles, it can feel like a neon sign flashing “ALONE”. For dating couples, it’s often a gauntlet of expectations around grand gestures and perfect gifts....
Navigating Grief During the Holidays
Tears stream down your face and you can barely breathe. Your thoughts wander down memory lane in middle of conversations. A wave of irritability catches you and those around you off guard. Grieving during the holidays can feel overwhelming. In the past you’ve...
Election Anxiety: Finding Calm Amid Uncertainty
During an election season, it’s completely understandable to feel heightened anxiety or worry. The election anxiety definition is the emotional and physical stress responses triggered by the political climate, often exacerbated by media coverage and perceived threats...