Center for Intimate Relationships, LLC

06/07/2024

05/17/2024

You are worth taking care of.
You are worth taking care of.
You are worth taking care of.

In case you missed it…

You are worth taking care of. ✨

05/10/2024

This right here is serious therapy!!!
One of the teachers from my kid's school brought her fur-baby in for the students and needless to say, I fell madly in love!

I didn't want to give him back...❤️

So, in case you needed a puppy photo today... your welcome! 🤣

04/26/2024

I love to pull cards with clients in therapy. They offer a message that we might not have considered, a new perspective, or an opening to a different conversation. ✨

Here's one for YOU...

What does "setting limits" bring up for you?
Where might you need to set stronger boundaries in your life?
How often do you want to say no, instead say yes, and then resent the person you said yes to, or regret it?

Remember, no is a complete sentence❗️

04/19/2024

How often do you walk down the street and completely miss the scenery? 🌱

I've seen this tree 1000 times. But on this day, I looked at the tree as if seeing it for the very first time; it's curves, shapes, color, angles, bark, buds.

I paused long enough to really be in that moment. The result?

✨ Awe Struck. ✨

Imagine approaching your partner that way?

Slowing down long enough to really take them in; their curves, color, shapes, smell, taste and sounds?

Noticing their quieter moments of being, how they tilt their head when thinking, or how their body takes shape around your own?

How often do you allow yourself enough time, space and presence to feel awe struck by the one you love most? ❤️

04/12/2024

What sits at the heart of intimacy? This quote says it all:

“I don’t expect you to agree with me; you weren’t put on the face of this earth to validate and reinforce me. But I want you to love me - and you can’t really do that if you don’t know me. I don’t want your rejection - but I must face that possibility if I’m ever to feel accepted or secure with you. It’s time to show myself to you and confront my separateness and mortality. One day when we are no longer together on this earth, I want to know you knew me”. ~ Schnarch

It's my fave. My work helps you learn how to tolerate the risks involved in becoming fully seen, heard and known.

What does this quote bring up in you?

04/05/2024

Low s*xual desire is the #1 reason couples seek s*x therapy and as I've posted, author, professor and researcher Peggy Kleinplatz notes that this is due to s*xual dissatisfaction. This month's article tells you the exact 8 components you can work on to level up your game. Click below to read all about it. 🔥

Article about the characteristics of couples that have an extraordinary s*x life together and what you can focus on the have it too.

03/29/2024

Did you know that the #1 complaint from folks who experience low s*xual desire is... s*xual dissatisfaction?

Author and researcher Peggy Kleinplatz says:"Perhaps low s*xual desire is just evidence of good judgment!". [AASECT Conference]

03/22/2024

TRUE STORY!🌟

Sam and Pat told me:

We haven’t had s*x in 12 years. 😞
We love each other. But, no s*x.
We signed up for your 10-Day Intimacy Challenge.💪🏽
We really committed to the challenge.
We did exactly what it said to do on each day.
As a result, we had s*x for the first time in 12 years. 🎉
We don’t want to lose this.
So now we’re in therapy with you to keep it going.

Whether it’s been a few months or years in the making, you can
find each other again. ❤️

One small step.

Take the Free 10 Day Intimacy Challenge Now!

Carolynn Aristone's 10 Day Intimacy Challenge - an easy relationship builder that will give you 10 days & 10 ways to show your love, be more affectionate and build a deeper connection with each other. Sign up for FREE.

03/15/2024

I recently shared this passage with a couple close to graduating therapy. Yung Pueblo's words resonated deeply with this couple as we acknowledged their personal and relational growth.

Small steps forward, one foot in front of the other. It's the only way.

03/08/2024

BIG NEWS! I’ve got a brand new website for you! (Link below!) ↓↓
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Change is not always predictable but definitely inevitable. Over the years, I’ve learned to lean into the flow of the river, as opposed to trying to push it in the direction I think I want it to go.
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Which is definitely a practice for me because ya know, I’m an Aries. 🐏🤣
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After owning a group practice since 2010, I returned to solo practice in 2023. Little did I know how incredibly magical this decision would be for me. Yes, I used the word magic. ✨
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Want to see the result of this juicy magic? Click below to check out my NEW website. 🎉

Carolynn Aristone, MSW, LCSW, CST provides couples counseling & s*x therapy and therapy for women for New Jersey residents in person and virtually. She also provides mindfulness training, in person for New Jersey residents and virtually to anyone nationwide.

03/01/2024

I'm a firm believer in the serenity prayer... accepting what we cannot change, having the courage to change what we can, and having the wisdom to know the difference.

So much of life is beyond our control. Focus on being in flow with what's within your reach and let the rest go. ✨

02/16/2024

What does the Tarot have to teach us about love, s*x and intimacy?

The card below is called The Lovers, an intimate moment between two mature adults who appear enraptured by each other.
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They are eye to eye, nose to nose and body to body. Together, they create a swirling, vibrant energy that is placed against a fiery, orange backdrop.
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Drawn from the Tarot Deck known as The Light Seers, The Lovers
card is an invitation.
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It asks you to reflect on the value and role of love, s*x, passion and intimacy in your life.
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Balanced within the masculine and the feminine, it asks you to consider how you embody power, choice, equality and connection in your own intimate partnership.
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If you pulled this card from a Tarot Deck, I would encourage you to see if any of the following questions mean anything to you:

The Light of the Lovers 🌟

→Are you in a relational transition?
→Is a lesson presenting itself to you within your marriage?
→How do you experience equality with your partner?
→How do you share power?
→What behaviors make you feel loved by your partner?
→ow do you connect emotionally? S*xually?

These questions encourage you to reflect on your shared union, reminding you that when your energies come together, the sum of what you create becomes greater than your individual selves. 🌈

The Shadow of the Lovers🌪

→Is your relationship out of harmony?
→Have you lost your sense of self in this relationship?
→Does your partner allow for your influence on decisions and vice versa?
→Are you personally in a transition and not feeling emotionally supported?
→Is your relationship struggling through a change?
→Do you trust each other enough to be vulnerable together?

These questions ask you to reflect on the potential blocks to your shared harmony, equality, connection and joy.
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If these questions resonate more than “the light”, this card invites you to look at the challenges and start to take steps to heal your relationship.
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Keep in mind that you can only love someone else to the capacity that you can love yourself.
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Open your heart so that you can create deeply meaningful relationships, and trust the process fully. ❤️

02/03/2024

I'd like to share a fun exercise that I use in therapy with couples. You can turn this into a fun Valentine's Day activity! 🌟 But first, some thoughts...

In long-term relationships, couples can start to drag, meaning, their relationship lacks energy. They don't show up to life feeling inspired by each other or excited to share time together. They feel ho-hum and live a super predictable life.

Predictability helps create safety but too much safety is actually boring. 😴

When couples confine themselves to the same activities, events, friends and outings, they lack novelty.

Last week, in a therapy session, I gave a couple this home practice assignment: ↓↓↓

Each partner comes up with a list of 10 different date night ideas. They must be dates that you've NEVER done before. Don't share your lists with each other until we meet again.

We ended that session and met again this week. Did they do their homework? Yes!

We discussed the various ideas on their lists. I noticed that unlike other sessions, the couple felt more alive.

They were excited to share their ideas with each other, noting that it was fun to have to come up with different activities.

Some ideas from one partner would surprise the other partner. They laughed and joked. Their energy shifted. ✨

They were ready and eager to plan quality time together with purpose and intention!

If you're relationship feels sleepy, consider doing this exercise with your partner. February is a great time to become intentional about your relationship and plan for memorable experiences together throughout the year. ❤️

HEALTH. HEALING. WHOLENESS. Couples & S*x Therapy Therapy for Women Mindfulness Training I provide a respectful, confidential environment that strengthens health, healing and whole-hearted living.   GET STARTED NOW Services Intimacy in long-term relationships takes effort. It requires your own pers...

12/29/2023

Curious as to what people talked about in therapy in 2023? I've written an article just for you, highlighting major themes in therapy this year. See if any of these topics feels familiar to you. If so, know that you are not alone.

As we conclude 2023, I’ve been reflecting on the recurring themes that presented in the therapy room this year. I know that many of my readers may also have some of these struggles. Know that you are not alone and it’s possible to feel better. I share some of them with you below in no particular...