LOVEBONDS

We've all heard it. We've heard it among friends. We've heard it at social gatherings. We've heard it on the television and among relationship experts  - 'once a cheater, always a cheater'.  Is is true?  This episode provides an in-depth exploration of the old adage 'once a cheater, always a cheater'.  

Online dating is easy, convenient and popular. Many a pair have met, fallen in love and married through online dating apps - so what's wrong with meeting people through dating apps? Relationship and couple counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy shares ways in which online dating works against building a safe and trusting romantic relationship. 

The discovery of an affair immediately catapults a couple into a relationship crisis. The future of the relationship is no longer guaranteed as the couple asks themselves, "Can we survive this?" The task of rebuilding trust and safety is daunting. Listen as affair recovery expert Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy unpacks a particularly tricky challenge in affair recovery.

If you're in a shiny new relationship and things are going great, you might be wondering if he or she be 'the one.' Does your new relationship have enough of the right stuff to go the distance? Is it too early to tell? Here's a quick - but effective - way to determine if your new relationship might have genuine, long-lasting potential. 

It's no secret that all relationships experience conflict and periods of disconnect. While these experiences are considered typical, how can you tell when enough is enough, and it may be time to call it quits? Relationship and couple counselor  Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy  offers a few indications that a relationship may be reaching the breaking point.

We've all seen the magazine headlines, celebrity gossip stories, politicians who cheat and have listened to the experts that portray infidelity in  trite and predictable ways.  Our culture tends to simplify and trivialize each person within the affair triad. In fact, the language of affairs also contributes to infidelity misunderstanding.  Popular notions suggest that:  The one who engaged in the...

Love and relationships have their challenges but when the romantic partner is a personality disordered psychopath the challenges are steep.  Not for the faint of heart, this episode presents an in-depth discussion on being in a relationship with the personality disordered with Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Steve Becker. Steve has over twenty years of experience and specializes in narcissistic s...

What is a couple to do when infidelity occurs before getting married? Mayi Dixon, LPC host of Anchor's "The PreMarital Bliss Podcast," interviews relationship and couples counselor Terri DiMatteo . The two discuss the unique concerns that occur when infidelity happens before getting married. What is the best response, and what is the best way forward? You can learn more about Mayi by visiting her...

Do you still occasionally think about a romantic partner from your past? Do you sometimes wonder 'what if?' even though many years have passed and each of you has moved on? Does a particular past person still hold a tender place in your heart? If so, perhaps you have experienced a love that was interrupted rather than an actual break-up. This episode is based on the fascinating research on lost lo...

Infidelity is a relationship trauma that hurts. Affairs require lies and deception to occur. The paid and suffering in the aftermath lingers a lifetime. With all of that, is there anything about infidelity that makes sense? Is there any logic to it? Relationship and couples counselor Terri DiMatteo, LPC discusses how infidelity 'makes sense' with Dini of Vigilantes Radio on the "Inside The Biz" Se...

It is a common misconception that a relationship lacking in conflict is desirable. Many couples that find themselves in couples counseling report, "we never fight." Although they are experiencing angst, they don't engage in conflict. What is the problem with having a "conflict-free" relationship and "getting alone"? Trusted relationship and couple counselor  Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door T...

Did your partner cheat on you? Are you sure? Does one of you think the other cheated, yet you can't agree that cheating has occurred? Which behaviors constitute infidelity? Is kissing another an act of betrayal? Is excessive texting or emotional sharing with another infidelity? Is there an identifiable line? How can it be so confusing? Affair recovery expert  Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door...

The first task in affair recovery is to fully and permanently conclude the relationship with the outside party or the affair-partner. Full affair recovery cannot truly take place while a spouse or committed partner remains in contact with the affair-partner. While this task can occur expediently, more often than not, it is usually a challenging process that often comes with some backsliding. This...

The first task in affair recovery is to fully and permanently conclude the relationship with the outside party or the affair-partner. Full affair recovery cannot truly take place while a spouse or committed partner remains in contact with the affair-partner. While this task can occur expediently, more often than not, it is usually a challenging process that often comes with some backsliding. This...

The first task in affair recovery is to fully and permanently conclude the relationship with the outside party or the affair partner. Full affair recovery cannot fully occur while a spouse or committed partner contacts the affair partner. While this task can occur expediently, more often than not, it is usually a challenging process that often comes with some backsliding. This stage of affair reco...

There are many notions about why people have affairs that suggest a biological predisposition, that partners who stray are immoral individuals without conscience or that society and culture are to blame. Affair recovery expert  Terri DiMatteo, LPC of Open Door Therapy , has quite a different thought on the matter.

When asked what a relationship is for, most people respond that it's for companionship, sharing tasks, and sexual intimacy. While those things are true, romantic love serves a greater purpose. Romantic love has a very significant meaning and function. Specifically, it helps partners regulate difficult emotions and serve as a buffer from the stresses and strains of life. Getting that functionality...