Laura's Strengthening Marriage Blog

Are you married? You’re invited to take part in this anonymous research study on the sex lives of married couples sponsored by Utah Valley University (UVU). They even based a part of it on our description of the Good Girl Syndrome from Chapter 1 of our book And They Were Not Ashamed–Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment.

Continue reading “UVU Sex Survey for Married Couples” »

Boredom in the bedroom is a big issue for many couples. In this Marriage Message video #002 — Amping Up the Ambience Laura M. Brotherson shares three easy suggestions for adding sensuality and spark back into the bedroom.

Continue reading “MM Video #002 — Amping Up the Ambience” »

Welcome to our new “Open Forum 4” discussion page!

We continue to create new Open Forum pages for you to post your questions and comments, and for us all to discuss important marriage and intimacy issues. Please post your new comments/questions to this Open Forum 4 post below.

For additional insights, you can review previous discussions by clicking on the links below. You will then find a list of topics discussed in each Open Forum:

• Open Forum 4 (to post NEW questions and comments)
• Open Forum 3 (posts from Apr 2011 – May 2013)
• Open Forum 2 (posts from Jun 2009 — Apr 2011)
• Open Forum 1 (posts from Aug 2007 – Jun 2009)
• Laura’s Straight Talk Q&A (for other questions and answers from Laura)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Continue reading “Open Forum 4” »

Matt Townsend is a pretty funny guy! Loved the name he gave me, “The Queen of Marital Intimacy!” Cute Matt! It was a treat to be a guest on his BYU Radio program “The Matt Townsend Show” on SiriusXM satellite radio on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time).

We Get to Talk about Sex!

Of course we got to talk about sex and stuff…! So you’ll definitely want to check out the audio here and get some great tips for strengthening your marriage intimately. You’ll hear him start introducing my segment around 21:00 minutes, then I join the show around 25:00 if you want to skip to the good stuff!…sorry Matt! : )

Continue reading “Laura’s Radio Interview with Matt Townsend” »

In the first of many Marriage Message videos #001 — Marriage is a Gift from God Laura M. Brotherson, marriage and family therapist, author of the book And They Were Not Ashamed–Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment, host of “The Marital Intimacy Show” podcast and founder of StrengtheningMarriage.com shares a few thoughts on marriage as a gift from God, and how marriage can also be our gift back to God!

Continue reading “MM Video #001 — Marriage is a Gift from God” »

Training for Bishops

As a marriage and family therapist and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was recently asked to help with a training meeting for some of our local LDS Bishops. It was a little surprising to find very few resources easily available to help our good Bishops–especially with issues related to counseling with Church members.

In requesting information and resources from a plethora of my LDS counselor friends and LDS Family Services friends, I was surprised that not many had a lot to offer (…thankfully some did!). Most everyone did ask if I would please share with them whatever I found.

Packet of Resources for Bishops

So, after putting together a packet of resources for the Bishop’s training , I thought I should also make them a little more easily available in case other therapists are asked to do trainings, and if other Bishops may be interested in this information as well.

Below you will find a list of possible resources for Bishops and their members with links to the pdf files or directly to website resources. (Please let me know if you have other good resources to add…!

SUGGESTED RESOURCES FOR LDS BISHOPS

Counseling with Church Members — General Information

1. LDS Therapists in the Boise, Idaho Area
2. Laura’s Suggested Resources for LDS Bishops
3. Thoughts on the Handbook Topic – Counseling – by Bishop Dean Bender
4. General Counsel for Bishops — from Other LDS Therapists     Continue reading “LDS Bishops — Suggested Resources” »

“The Dating Divas” SPECIAL! Get Laura’s Book!

50% off … just $9!

And They Were Not Ashamed–Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment

(only thru Fri 3/22 at 12 midnight MST)!

~ SUBSCRIBE to Laura’s Newsletter! ~

2

3

4

Continue reading “Meeting Each Other’s Intimate Needs — Outline & Resources” »

In support of our fellow marriage-strengthening friends at the Happy Wives Club who are encouraging everyone to start a trend and create a list of reasons we love, adore and cherish our husbands, here is part 2 (#8 – #14) of my never-ending list of why I love my husband…!

Continue reading “My Funny Hunny” »

2013 Kissy Photo Contest Winners

Congratulations to Lance and Natalie – the 2013 winners of our annual StrengtheningMarriage.com Couples Photos drawing for a romantic getaway to the fabulous Anniversary Inn.

Thank you to everyone who submitted entries for our 8th Annual Couples Photos contest! It was especially fun to get all the “kissy” photos this year! I hope everyone will keep kissing and snap a few pics too…even if it grosses out your kids! (Those are some of my favorite pics! ; )

Gross-Out-Your-Kids Kissy Pics

Here are a few of our favorite “gross-out-your-kids” kissy pics….  You’ll also find all the new entries for the 2013 drawing on our Couples Photos Page.

(Next year we think we’ll have you all vote for the winner instead of continuing our random drawing…!)

Continue reading “2013 Kissy Photo Contest Winners” »