Relationship Coaching Archives

How Healthy Boundaries Lead to Stronger Relationships and Greater Personal Fulfillment

July 9, 2025 / By Allison Task

A wooden fence stands on a green grassy field under a blue sky with scattered white clouds.

Boundaries are like invisible lines that protect our personal space, emotional needs, and values. But they are often misunderstood. Some people think setting boundaries pushes others away, but in reality, the opposite is true. Setting healthy boundaries creates the space needed for deeper, more meaningful connections. They show self-respect, protect emotional well-being, and open the […]

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Step Mom Help: How To Support A Stepmom

September 16, 2024 / By Allison Task

A woman and a young girl sit on a couch. The woman, who is a stepmom, is pointing at a book while the girl follows along, indicating a teaching or homework session filled with support.

On my wedding day, I became a stepmother. That word, with all its ugly connotations, was a coat I put on top of my wedding dress. After the honeymoon, I looked at this coat (not at all my style), and I thought: what have I done? Sounds horrible, doesn’t it. I felt like the ogre

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The Power of Connection: Building Strong Relationships with Yourself and Others

September 16, 2024 / By Allison Task

Humans are social creatures, and human connection is a key part of the human experience. The power of connection, whether that be a social connection with others or your own connection with yourself, is vital. The connections we make are what help us grow and cultivate genuine connections, which are essential for building lasting relationships.

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Transform Unhealthy Communication in Relationships

June 27, 2024 / By Allison Task

Two hands gently holding pinky fingers, demonstrating unhealthy communication in relationships, with anchor tattoos on each, against a blurred natural background.

Communication, whether verbal or nonverbal, is one of the best ways to connect with those we care about on a deeper level. Unfortunately, poor communication patterns in relationships can create cracks, toxicity, or even bring an otherwise beautiful relationship to an end. Unfortunately, many engage in toxic communication patterns without even realizing it. Unhealthy communication

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What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger: Resilience Roundup

November 13, 2019 / By Allison Task

a man with a backpack climbing up a mountain. resilience

I remember sitting with my stepdaughter over breakfast when she was about 8. She told me that she was frustrated about her parent’s divorce, that she was now different from her friends and had to schlep her stuff back and forth between two residences. I am sure that she was frustrated about a lot more

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Montclair Local Voices’ Ask Task: Is it Normal to Sleep Separately?

August 9, 2017 / By Allison Task

Dear Allison, My husband and I have a healthy marriage. We go on date nights about three times a month. On the weekends, we are intimate. No matter how tired my husband is after work, he always spends quality time with our son. And before fully winding down for the evening, he makes sure bills

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Montclair Local Voices Ask Task: I don’t want to have sex

August 2, 2017 / By Allison Task

a woman standing in front of a window in a bedroom.

Dear Allison, I just don’t want to have sex with my husband any more. There I’ve said it. I like him, I love him, he’s a great father and partner. I’m just not into sex. I’m still nursing (our fourth child), and I get enough physical stimulation. I know he’s disappointed about it, but I

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How to Help Your Spouse Find A Better Job

July 12, 2017 / By Allison Task

a man sitting at a table in front of a window.

If your spouse is looking for a change, follow these 4 steps to recalibrate their career trajectory. There are few things more heartbreaking than someone hating their job. Work is where most people spend the majority of their waking hours. And if your spouse is the breadwinner, they feel this responsibility—they have to work, they have to make money,

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“I’m a Single Mother by Choice—and I Love It”

June 28, 2017 / By Allison Task

a woman holding a little girl in her arms.

Are you considering becoming a single parent by choice? Here’s how one single mom did it all on her own—from selecting sperm to becoming pregnant to having two children—and she’s sharing all her top secrets on how you, too, can become a parent. Have you always wanted to be a mom? Kate McNeil did. She

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