RelateWell with Dr. Rick Marks

Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the effects of Covid on families and the research on healthy marriages and the possibility of churches being a community leader in enriching and strengthening marriages.  A short discussion includes how healthy and loving marriages helps prevent emotional and mental illnesses.

The effects of abuse and traumatic events on children is well known and established.  But how do these effects show up as adults and how we do relationships, in particular, marriage?  Dr. Rick and Angelia explore the effects of childhood trauma on marriage and adult relationships.

Mind reading is not healthy in relationships.  As a matter of fact, it can be a form of dirty fighting and power over another.  You could be wrong in that instance!  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss relationships and how assumptions, mind reading and emotional triggers work together to create disruptions, hurt and disconnection.

Landmark studies reveal how trauma affects the brain and one's future relationships.  The ACE's study, a national study was very revealing and has led to greater understanding and clarification of how childhood abuse affects an individual and their ability to connect and bond.  Dr. Rick and Angelia explore this study and its impact on individuals and families.

We all know that little voice, that sits in the back of our head, and talks a lot.  That inner voice tends to be critical, negative, fearful and suspiscious.  We call that voice "It."  And yet, most of us listen to that voice and give it honor.  Thus we make poor decisions for ourselves and in our relationships.  Dr. Rick and Angelia talk about our inner critical voice and how to live a healthy, mature and spiritually sound life in spite of it.

Research reveals that there are three primary ways in which people attach: secure, anxious or avoidant.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss these forms of attachment, how they form and how they interact with others.  Additionally, they close with the five stages of marriages over time.

Every marriage will have conflict and sometimes one or both partner uses passive aggressive techniques to get their way.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the nature of passive aggression and its effects on one's spouse and the relationship.

Fatherlessness is an epidemic problem in America and the research data on the effects on boys is quite disheartening.  Dr. Rick and Angelia talk about fatherlessness on children and in particular, the effects on boys.

There are different views of marriage from traditional roles of husband and wife to equalitarian roles where both are equal.  Respect is essential in decision making and power struggles exist when couples disrespect who gets to make a decision.  In every relationship there are decisions that need no input from one's spouse.  Yet there are also US decisions: those decision that the couple must agree on or find a solution to so that the marriage wins.  Dr. Rick Marks and Angelia discuss the idea of decision making in marriage.

The term codependency has been around for awhile and many books have been written on the topic.  It is closely associated with addictions of all forms.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss codependency, reveal it traits, how to identify it in marriage and what one needs to do to correct codependent behavior.