Family & RelationshipsSep 17, 2026
Middle Childhood Asks Something of Parents, Too
As children enter middle childhood, they become more independent, but parents are changing, too. Here’s what this developmental transition asks of both.
Family & Relationships
Updated Oct 12, 2026 8:00 AM PT
Family & Relationships Psychologist News
Current reporting, research and professional developments across Family & Relationships, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
Family & RelationshipsSep 16, 2026
3 Reasons Why Kissing Is Vital for a Successful Relationship
Learn how sharing a kiss can impact attraction, promote attachment, and spark arousal in your romantic relationship.
Family & RelationshipsSep 16, 2026
Psychology says parents who keep old toys may be protecting more than precious memories
For parents, old toys embody deep emotional ties that go far beyond their material worth. They act as keepsakes that evoke autobiographical moments from family life. These cherished objects enrich a ...
Family & RelationshipsSep 15, 2026
Let the Positivity Effect Liven Up Your Relationship
People fall in love for many reasons, and stick together for even more. New relationship research shows the one factor that can keep a relationship strong and long.
Family & RelationshipsSep 15, 2026
2 'Relationship Tests' Couples Must Ace for the Long Haul
There are usually four types of accommodation responses: Active-constructive. Partners intentionally discuss issues and actively work towards resolving problems. Passive-constructive. A partner may ...
Family & RelationshipsSep 15, 2026
Psychological traumas children may experience when parents frequently have conflicts
Frequently witnessing parents' conflicts can affect children's psychology and emotions. Unusual signs of emotions and behavior in young people are easily overlooked but can be a warning of mental ...
Family & RelationshipsSep 11, 2026
Psychology says people who take their kids for play dates aren't simply keeping them busy: What this behavior reveals?
Psychology says people who take their kids for play dates aren't simply arranging time for children to play. Parents may use playdates to help children learn social skills, prepare for school, build ...
Family & RelationshipsSep 11, 2026
Psychology says parents who still cover their kids’ books and notebooks with brown paper may be doing this more as a ritual
Psychology can help explain why simple, repetitive routines may take on emotional significance, but no single habit can provide a complete picture of someone’s personality. For some parents, using ...
Family & RelationshipsSep 11, 2026
The Simple Way to Fix Your Relationship, According to a Psychologist
A psychologist says staying curious about your partner and asking better questions can help long-term relationships feel connected again.
Family & RelationshipsSep 10, 2026
Parent Burnout and Special Needs Parenting
Here’s why parent burnout happens, how it can impact your relationship, and what you can do to recharge without the guilt.
Family & RelationshipsSep 10, 2026
The Silent Toll: A Peaceful Relationship Isn’t Always Ideal
A new study of nearly 8,000 adults suggests that when it comes to our health, avoiding conflict may matter less than having a partner who truly supports us.
Family & RelationshipsSep 9, 2026
Why do you feel lonely even when you’re surrounded by people? A psychologist explains the hidden reason
Have you ever felt lonely even when you are surrounded by people? You may be sitting with friends, spending time with family ...
Family & RelationshipsSep 3, 2026
The Critical Question My Marriage Counselor Should Have Asked Me From The Very Beginning
Across several marriage counselors, not one ever asked Kerala Goodkin the question that should've mattered most: Do you feel safe?
Family & RelationshipsSep 1, 2026
10 Signs Your Relationship Has ‘Forever Potential,’ By A Psychologist
Lasting love has less to do with chemistry than with 10 quiet habits couples build over years. A psychologist explains what actually predicts a long term relationship.
Family & RelationshipsAug 31, 2026
I'm a psychologist who studies couples—to avoid feeling quietly resentful of each other, make 1 simple change
Psychologist and relationship expert Mark Travers says the happiest couples have stopped fighting about who's doing more. Here's how to avoid it.
Family & RelationshipsAug 30, 2026
The Dark Side of Parent Support Groups
Well-meaning parent groups often silence clinicians and reward conformity, leaving misinformation—and those who profit from it—unchecked.
Family & RelationshipsAug 30, 2026
I'm a psychologist who studies couples: The happiest couples never fight about this 1 thing (it's not sex or money)
Psychologist and relationship expert Mark Travers says the happiest couples have stopped fighting about who's doing more. Here's how to avoid it.
Family & RelationshipsAug 27, 2026
Does Having a Crush Mean Your Relationship Is in Trouble?
New research suggests a crush outside your relationship isn’t necessarily a disaster. Risk grows with dissatisfaction and pursuit of alternatives.
Family & RelationshipsAug 27, 2026
Parallel Parenting vs. Co-Parenting
The more estranged divorce parents are, the less information they feel they must share with one another. This post outlines when information sharing is a must.
Family & RelationshipsAug 27, 2026
Psychology says people who are sweet to your face but hurt you behind your back may be doing more than pretending
Psychology does not support labeling someone a narcissist, psychopath or Machiavellian simply because they said something unpleasant behind your back. People can make mistakes, vent their frustrations ...
Family & RelationshipsAug 25, 2026
Are You an "Orange Peel" Partner? The Relationship Trend Explained
The Orange Peel Theory is based on relationship expert John Gottman’s idea of bids for connection. These are small attempts to connect with a partner, whether by asking a question, smiling, requesting ...
Family & RelationshipsAug 25, 2026
Before you say "I do," 8 marriage fears counselors wish every couple discussed
Getting engaged tends to come with a flood of good feeling, ring photos, cake tastings, a growing guest list. What often gets skipped is the quieter conversation about what actually worries each ...
Family & RelationshipsAug 23, 2026
Stop telling kids they can do anything—what parents can say instead to raise successful kids, says psychologist
"Parents don’t even realize they’re relaying a false message," says psychologist Juli Fraga, who's spent 20+ years working with parents. What to say instead.
Family & RelationshipsAug 21, 2026
Psychology tips for parenting: Smart parents use these 5 psychological hacks to keep their children close to their hearts.
Smart Parenting Tips: Parenting goes beyond merely educating children, instilling good values, or teaching the difference between right and wrong. Children also crave an emotional connection with ...
Family & RelationshipsAug 21, 2026
Is Parenting Necessarily an Exercise in Exerting Power?
With collaborative consequence setting, kids have less of an opportunity to think that their consequence is unfair, since they have a part in setting the consequence; the parent becomes less of an ...
Family & RelationshipsAug 21, 2026
When 'but they're your family' isn't reason enough to stay
Overall, her research has found that adult children who go "no contact" with one or both parents choose estrangement as a last resort and to free themselves to create a chosen family environment that ...
Family & RelationshipsAug 20, 2026
Marriage Counselling in Vancouver: How to Build a Stronger Relationship
Strengthen your relationship with professional marriage counselling in Vancouver. Rebuild trust, improve communication, and reconnect today.
Family & RelationshipsAug 19, 2026
The Family Isn’t a Political Talking Point. It’s a Public Health Necessity.
That should concern all of us. Because the family isn’t a political position. It’s a developmental fact.
Family & RelationshipsAug 19, 2026
Psychology says people who add ‘no pressure’ to requests may be trying to protect the relationship as much as the request
Asking someone for their time, help, attention or a favor always leaves room for rejection, which can feel uncomfortable for everyone involved. To make the interaction feel less awkward, the person ...
Family & RelationshipsAug 19, 2026
Why does your child prefer one parent over the other? Psychology explains this common behavior and what it really means
Why does your child prefer one parent over the other? Children often prefer one parent over another based on changing needs and situations. Attachment theory explains this preference as seeking a ...