All posts by Alysha Jeney

The Ex: Should You Stay Friends With Them?

Self Reflection : Is it healthy to stay friends with your ex? Do you ever ask, “should you stay friends with your ex?” It’s a tricky question for many of us, especially if we haven’t truly identified our own intentions or feelings. Most modern relationships start with two people having a relationship history. Whether it’s extensive, short or eclectic, our relationship past is usually complicated and sometimes hard to understand. When .

How to Have a Successful Relationship

Takeaway: I’m a couples therapist in Denver, and my clients often ask me questions like, “What makes a relationship successful?” or “How do you have a successful relationship?” These specific questions can be incredibly challenging to answer because relationships can be very complicated. These answers can also be confusing if you find yourself from a lineage of divorce, a not-so-great depiction of a loving partnership from your parents, and/or you witness .

Why You Shouldn’t Ask “Are You Going To Have Kids?”

Are You Going To Have Kids? How Asking About Children May Actually Be Hurtful Are you going to have kids? May seem like an innocent question. Our culture especially finds this a “normal” topic of conversation considering it is just assumed that everyone wants children… or can have them. I work with an array of clients varying in relationship status; single, dating, in a relationship(s), married. My clients have been extremely successful in .

The Ironic Envy : What Traveling Has Taught Me About Values

What Traveling Has Taught Me About (My) Values. I enjoy traveling. As I think many of us do. We can feel free to be our true authentic selves, not worrying about calorie intake or emails. It’s a feeling of release and ease. I recently traveled to the West Indies with my adorable husband. We weren’t exactly sure what to expect, but we knew we were up for an adventure. The moment .

I Love You, Man : Adult Friendships

BFFs and Adulting : Why is it so Difficult to Make Adult Friendships? Another common theme I tend to hear from clients has nothing to do with romantic relationships, but rather adult friendships. As I am writing this, I immediately think of the movie I Love You, Man staring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. Although comical, the movie actually has a lot of truth to it and while you may find yourself laughing your butt .

How do we know we are in a Committed Relationship?

A Committed Relationship : A Label, an Event or a Feeling? What “Commitment” is Expected to do for us in our Relationships I have noticed throughout my work with couples that one thing seems to pop up and cause tension, conflict and/or disconnection between partners. This lurking dark cloud that slowly creeps into session that I speak of, generally involves sensitivities around “commitment.” “So then, what signifies a committed relationship?” You may .

How to Improve Sex in a Relationship

How to Improve Sex in a Relationship | Here’s How Your SEXpectations may be Limiting Your Sex Life in a Longterm Relationship I often hear the common complaint from clients regarding their intimacy and sexual relationship with their longterm partner: “We don’t have as much sex as we used to.” “We have become complacent. Sex is more of a routine.” “Our honeymoon stage is way gone.” “I don’t really ever desire sex.” .

My Counseling Story : Being on the Other Side of the Therapist’s Chair

How Counseling Has Changed My Personal Life : A Therapist’s Story When I say, “I understand that it is difficult for a lot of us to reach out for support,” (especially in regards to our emotional intelligence and relationship insecurities), I personally mean it. I understand why, the topic of counseling can seem extremely uncomfortable and I definitely get the (false) perception of counseling representing pure “weakness.” I understand these things because I have .

Preventative Counseling… What is it?

Prevent the Superficial Cycle : Why Preventative Counseling is Helping I still think many people have the misconception that “couples counseling” is only for couples who are on the verge of separating; that “couples counseling” is really just a last resort that requires half-assed effort and little to show for. I am beyond excited to report that through my experience as a therapist specializing in modern day relationships, couples are voluntarily .

Self Esteem & Self Perceptions

Internal Conflicts & Self Esteem : Does being “privileged” impact how we see ourselves and express our emotions? Most of my clients come in with some kind of emotional regulation, confidence and/or relationship “issue.”  (Why? Well, who doesn’t struggle with these three things at times in their life?) Although these factors are extremely common, I have recently noticed a reoccurring theme with the specific clients who identify themselves as “privileged.” This adds a .

Are our Emotions Irrational or Logical?

Are our Emotions Irrational or Logical?  How denying yourself the right to feel is actually damaging your relationships and your overall sense of self. Are our emotions irrational or logical? Experiencing the conflict can be really difficult to navigate for some of us. I know exactly when it’s happening. My body starts to tighten, my heart immediately starts to beat faster and louder. I can sense an eruption slowly increasing through my .