Relationships in the Raw

In the Raw: 7 signs you need couples counseling

Jennine Estes, MFT – SDGLN'S Relationship Expert
November 30th, 2012

If your relationship is on the rocks, you might start to question whether or not you’re in the right situation. Before you throw in the towel, you should definitely consider couples counseling, which can help you learn to change your patterns as a couple and start to move forward in a more healthy way.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you’re in trouble, here are the signs that you need to seek counseling together:

Shrink Wrap: Help! I have feelings for someone else

JENNINE ESTES - SDGLN RELATIONSHIP EXPERT
October 29th, 2012

Got an issue that you just can’t make sense of? Shrink Wrap is the go-to advice and support corner for the LGBT community. It’s similar to a Dear Abby but with a gay twist. Shrink Wrap allows you to ask questions about your personal life, relationships, sex, struggles, and anything else while remaining anonymous. Every week, we will answer up to three questions. Get real answers about real life issues. Anonymous and free! Give it a try, we dare you!

Confused writes:

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In the Raw: The Facebook "status" dilemma

Jennine Estes, MFT - SDGLN Relationship Expert
May 18th, 2012

It takes just a few seconds, but changing your relationship status on Facebook says a lot and can have damaging effects.

Sure, when a break-up happens you’ll want to alter your profile to reflect your true status; but, if you change your status without first informing your significant other, or out of spite, it can create real problems.

Before you change your Facebook relationship status, ask yourself a few questions.

Have you officially ended the relationship in private? What are your motives? Do you already plan on changing it back within a few days?

In the Raw: Seven misconceptions about therapy

Jennine Estes, MFT - SDGLN Relationship Expert
April 9th, 2012

In my counseling office, I work with people from all different walks of life. Each person has a unique step, story, and understanding of the world.

My job as a counselor is to tune into each specific client’s need and focus in on the goal at hand.

One speed bump I often run into while I going down the journey with my clients is that they tend to have a incorrect beliefs about how therapy is supposed to turn out.

Shrink Wrap: A boyfriend with two identities?

Jennine Estes - SDGLN Relationship Expert
March 22nd, 2012

Got an issue that you just can’t make sense of? Shrink Wrap is a new column on SDGLN.com and is the go-to advice and support corner for the LGBT community. It’s similar to a Dear Abby but with a gay twist. Shrink Wrap allows you to ask questions about your personal life, relationships, sex, struggles, and anything else while remaining anonymous. Every week, we will answer up to three questions. Get real answers about real life issues. Anonymous and free! Give it a try, we dare you!

Helpless in San Diego writes:

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LGBT Sports Profile: Jennine Estes - trapeze trickster

SDGLN Staff
March 16th, 2012

This week's LGBT Sports profile shines a light on Jennine Estes, a daring young woman who takes her flying trapeze very seriously.

Estes grew up in Antioch, Calif., just an hour east of San Francisco.

When she came to San Diego for college 15 years ago, she loved it so much, she never left.

This active member of our community is busier than ever.

Estes runs a thriving counseling practice in Mission Valley, is happily taken, and recently moved to the Mission Hills area of San Diego, where she "loves every bit of it."

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In the Raw: Couples Facebook therapy

Jennine Estes, MFT
September 26th, 2011

I see more and more couples walking into my therapy office lately with a common theme: Facebook and how it has become an avenue to many problems in their relationships.

For example, if a couple is struggling with jealousy, partners may be more prone to "reading between the lines" when they see a friend wink to a post.

Or an emotionally unfulfilled partner may reach out for comfort to others online, because their partner is unavailable. Or maybe you don't want to have your same-sex relationship exposed online, but your partner feels hurt by the relationship being hidden.

In the Raw: How to bounce back after a gay bashing

Jennine Estes, MFT - SDGLN Contributor
August 18th, 2011

The LGBT community has suffered from gay-bashing for years, and although 2011 has brought much change and many cities are more open and accepting of same-sex relationships, one-on-one hate crimes are still on the rise.