If a friend’s hyper-affluent lifestyle deflates your mood, see him/her less and focus on lifting your own self-esteem.

If a partner’s constantly texting with someone, look closer at whom and why.

Beware the fabulous-seeming stranger who makes too-early moves and loves you too soon.

Never let a past bullying of you be repeated.

Love is a bond of giving, not a benefit package that provides only one-way comfort for the taker.

In relationships, being right or wrong isn’t as significant as being wrong for each other.

A renewed loving and respectful relationship definitely deserves a second chance!

The “friend” in a separation/divorce should NOT be introduced to children until the kids have adjusted to the break-up.

Listening to readers is as much a part of being an advice columnist as answering questions from letter-writers.

When a partner’s self-interested only, make positive changes for yourself.

After meeting online, first in-person dates are often a mutual test of whether to stay connected or move on.

When long-ago behaviour causes a partner’s distrust, look to current reasons for the partner’s insecurity.

A big personality can make an attractive first impression… but too many negative behaviours harm a relationship.

When a lover insists on hiding the relationship, take a break until a healthy partnership is possible.

Don’t accept adult children’s blaming your divorce for their dating experiences. They must take responsibility for their decisions/behaviour.

Re-marriage to a partner you once divorced requires understanding the past and what’s needed in the future.

It’s a universal rule when in long-distance relationships with “strangers” online: Be wary/alert to potential scams.

If you’re already open to online dating, then be open enough to getting to know (safely, and over time) interesting, likeable new “types” of people.

A difficult truth may be hard to confess but withholding it, easily damages a relationship.

Despite pandemic restrictions, be grateful for whatever’s been positive.

A loveless, sex-less blameful marriage won’t survive unless counselling brings new insights and mutual caring.

Constant co-worker email/text exchanges intrude on couple relationships. Discuss before overreacting.

When it’s over for logical/final reasons, it’s over.

When a teenager confides to parents about sexual identification, they’re expressing trust and caring about their parents’ reaction.

Don’t let someone else’s nasty behaviour affect your own self-worth. Move on.

Take pride in your strengths and consider how you handled the more difficult changes you encountered during this past year.

When a loved one’s behaviour undergoes disturbing changes, research possible causes, and contact your family doctor.

Past child-custody issues are best put behind you rather than distance the adult child further.

Don’t limit your own life’s chances for love because of negative choices a parent made in past times.

Telling children about a pending divorce requires thoughtful preparation and agreement on what’s age-appropriate to be said.

Show children love, support, stability. But if deeply unhappy in a marriage resisting repair effort, focus on helping children through divorce.

There’s much to be learned from the relationship struggles of others, especially if they bear some similarities with your own situation.

Don’t rush someone with an already troubled mind about commitment, into a promised relationship.

Not every marital relationship conflict is as obvious a problem as it seems.

Validate your teenager’s hurt feelings after a first breakup. Stay understanding and comforting but seek counselling help if signs of depression persist.

If you want a couple relationship that’s more than friends with benefits, end the benefits.

Even after a divorce, it’s wise and helpful to a future relationship to seek deeper understanding of why the former marriage ended.

Don’t give up on yourself. Counselling can help you recognize your own value and re-build self-esteem.

Dating is a time of learning about each other. If you don’t trust what you see and hear, move on.

Fight COVID-19-stress with fitness for energy and self-care for positive feelings.

If you know someone who’s cheated, examine why you’re planning to expose them.

While divorce is always hard on kids, so is a home wherein two people live together miserably.

With uncertainty and fear leading to suspicion about possibly being poisoned by your spouse, check the scientific facts available in your already doctor-reviewed medical tests.

Pandemic stress is inevitable. Try ways your family can adjust and find alternative de-stressors.

When communication’s cut off, at least one partner in the relationship has given up. You both need to find out why.

When important decisions need considering, build up your confidence and ability to handle them one by one.

Talk to a physician about age-related changes in sexual performance that may be normal/easily treatable.

Post-pandemic “lessons” about family life can help you change some former habits towards less-stressful choices.

Angry outbursts increase tensions, create anxiety and weaken relationships. Anger management counselling helps change the pattern.

Adult children may have stresses/problems they don’t share, yet blame a parent rather than their partner or themselves.