RelateWell with Dr. Rick Marks

Wedding season usually runs from May through the end of Summer.  It is a time of great joy for many couples as well as a time of great expense.  Many think some spend too much money on one day, and not enough on the success and health of the relationship.  Pre-Marital Counseling research reveals the benefit for the couple's success, or as Dr. Rick likes to say, "it is for the 50 year pla...

Were you aware that work and work relationships can have a negative impact on your marriage?  We all need to work.  Yet, we also need to be wary of how our work and work relationships impact your relationships with your spouse and family.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the negative impact that work can have on one's marriage and family and how to protect your most valuable relationship: your m...

There is much being said about things being toxic these days.  And one of these phrases is "toxic masculinity." What does this really mean?  What is healthy masculinity and what is unhealthy masculinity?  How do you identify them?  Dr. Rick and Angelia take on this issue on this podcast.

Have you ever thought that personal development might be more important than professional development?  And if so, why might that be?  Dr. Rick and Angelia take on the topic of personal development, what it is, and how it relates to living a healthy and mature life and relationships.

This is Part two of a two part discussion on loneliness.  Dr. Rick and Angelia explore what one can do to counteract the negative effects of loneliness and find the ability to live life healthy, mature and connected.  

Many marriages, over time, lose that lovin feeling.  There is even a song about it by the Righteous Brothers made famous in the movie Top Gun.  Yet, it is true that romance in marriage is important for a life long healthy and loving marriage relationship.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the effects of workplace romances, disconnection, and how this relates to a loss of romance in marriage.  Keep tha...

Loneliness is epidemic currently in the West and in particular in the USA.  Yet, the damaging effects of loneliness on physical and mental health is and has taken its toll on individuals and families.  What leads to loneliness, what is it, and what are those effects?  In Part 1 of Loneliness, Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss this topic and in Part 2 provide solutions.

You have heard it said that to love others one must learn to love themself.  And research proves and Christianity teach this principle.  But why?  How does healthy and mature self-love, rooted in humility, allow for the healthy and mature loving of others?  Dr. Rick and Angelia explore...

Transormation must be intentional.  Nothing happens without intentionality.  All personal transformations in one's personal life or relationships requires intentional thought, plans and actions.  However, procrastination is the enemy.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the nature of procrastination and how it affects  one's ability to become the best version of one's Self.

We are all seeking to have and enter in to healthy and loving and mature relationships.  But what do these look like?  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the traits of healthy relationships and how these impact one's personal life and relationships.

We all have regrets.  It is a part of life.  However, some people have so many regrets they affect their mental and emotional health.  What are the four types of regrets and how can we choose to live a healthy and happy life?  Dr. Rick and Angelia explore.

There is a lot of unkindness in our country today.  We see it on social media, in politics, and even among churches and in families.  How do we raise our children to be kind?  And how do we handle tough conversations where the stakes and emotions will be high?  Dr. Rick and Angelia explore...

Would you know if you are in a toxic relationship?  The term is thrown around a lot but would you be able to identify one?  Dr. Rick and Angelia tackle this subject and provide a number of traits of truly toxic relationships.

Many may think that personal development is sinful.  Yet, Scripture is clear that to walk in obedience to Christ and to mature in love requires development of one's self: body, mind and emotions.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss personal development and its connection to walking in faith.

Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss five red flags to look for in your relationships.  These red flags are warnings that your relationship will not go well.

Do you know how to emotionally regulate yourself out of the stress response of the reptile brain?  To live and love maturely one must have the maturity and self-awareness to emotionally regulate so the one an treat their partner with goodwill, respect, empathy and humility.  Dr. Rick and Angelia explore...

What is a failure?  Does failing at something make one a failure?  And what are the effects of lonliness on one's physical and emotional health.  Dr. Rick and Angelia take on these two topics to help us all to have a healthy, loving and mature life and relationships.

Traditional therapy for marriages does not work well with highly conflicted couples.  Yet, there is much that suggests that couples in high distress find far greater help in 1-4 day marriage intensives.  Focusing on what research shows helps build a strong healthy marriage (Sound Marital House), Dr. Rick's RelateWell Relationship Intensives for marriages coaches couples to develop the researc...

There is so much research on the effects of divorce and broken marriages on the adults and on the children.  But, in the last 30 years much research has taken place into the effects of what is now termed Parental Alienation Syndrome.  Dr. Rick talks about his experience being an alienated child against his mother and relates his experience to the research and patterns of alienated children and the...

Did you know that most people do not follow through on their new year resolutions?  Dr. Rick and Angelia talk about these resolutions and how to make them successful and why they are not.

Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the human need for control and power and how these needs affect relationships and marriage.  All humans have a biological need for control and to have a sense of power.  But when these become toxic they can have serious detrimental consequences on one's relationships and to those they are in relationship with as well.  Tune in to learn what healthy control and pow...

We all have heard of adultery.  Have you heard of "microcheating?"  Is it a real thing?  Does it really exist?  If it does exist, what is it, how do it reveal itself, what does it say about the microcheater and how is it different than adultery?  Dr. Rick and Angelia tackle this subject.

Many people tend to get depressed in the Fall and Winter, but especially around the holidays.  The holidays are a time for family, dreaming, wonder, love and goodness.  But for many, it is a time of pain, hurt, loneliness and depression.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss the nature of Seasonal Affective Disorder, regular depression and what you can do to manage and thrive during the holidays.

Christmas is a most meaningful time of year for millions across the globe.  And not just for its Christian meanings.  It is a time where our society focuses on love, family, and the things we are grateful for and appreciate.  Dr. Rick and Angelia discuss Christmas and its meaning in faith and to love and family and all that makes our nation healthy, loving and mature.  

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.