URMC / Employee Assistance Program / News & Events / UR Medicine EAP Blog Family Dinners: Do They Make a Difference? Regular family dinners can be tough to come by, but many research studies show that a family sit-down dinner a few days a week can have huge payoffs in reducing the risk of substance abuse among teens. “Stop the Bickering!†Bickering is the petty disputes you experience with another person, especially a loved one like a spouse, partner, or best friend. To bicker is human, but a frequent pattern that sabotages the pleasures of a relationship you both value needs a fix. Valentine’s Day Tip: Improving Couple Communication Complaints about a partner being “too controlling” are common in couples counseling. Whether you are too controlling or too passive, each of these behaviors is usually learned in our family of origin. Helping Victims of Domestic Violence Stigma causes many people to hide their domestic violence victimization. Back to School Tip: Create a Family Schedule As your family slowly turns to a new, exciting school year, consider this exercise to establish a schedule by actively having children participate in creating it so they own the need for the transition, understand their responsibilities, and feel empowered by the planning experience. First...11121314151617