October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the serious effects of domestic violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV). During this month, various programs focus on this critical issue to support those affected by domestic violence and to educate professionals who assist them.
In this blog, Dr. Rogers reviews the growing phenomenon of “sleep divorce,” a practice where an individual sleeps in a different bed to get better sleep or accommodate the sleep needs of a partner. Getting good sleep is not only important for the health of individuals, it can also have a significant impact on relationships. This blog will highlight research findings on sharing a bed with a partner, research on “sleep divorce,” and discuss ways to address problems leading to “sleep divorce.”
As someone who hadn’t seen patients on an outpatient basis for several years, I decided in late 2021 to explore the world of telehealth. Telehealth was new to me as it was to many clinicians. I think the combination of more time at home and the increased need for access to behavioral health I was seeing in my role as a crisis clinician sparked my desire to begin seeing patients again.
Let’s face it, romantic relationships can be challenging for many under the best of circumstances requiring attention and hard work to navigate the challenges that life can throw at any couple. Romantic relationships + military service? The challenges can feel like they are on steroids. Frequent moves, separation during training, long work hours, deployments… all very standard military-specific stressors that couples endure on top of the usual life stressors.
While I’ve written numerous blogs about military couples, one of my other professional interests is suicide prevention. Since September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I thought suicide prevention would be a good topic for my blog post this month. So, when I recently ran across Khalifan and colleagues’ (2022) article “Utilizing the couple relationship to prevent suicide: A preliminary examination of treatment for relationships and safety together” I was intrigued!