Sig Taylor - Marriage Therapy, Family Therapy and Professional Speaker

Globe & Mail. Friday Feb. 26, Section A10. "Made-for-TV Marriage cancelled in 10 days." Alexandra Gill

The whole spectacle may have made many people cringe, but Calgary Marriage Counselor Sig Taylor said there are "fabulous" lessons to be learned. The whole setup was about a fairy princess meeting her knight in shining amour. "That's a myth," Mr. Taylor said yesterday. But he pointed out that many people still believe in such myths and continue to marry for money or prestige. "This should be a lesson for all of us about what doesn't work," he said. And if Mr. Rockwell came to him for advice, Mr. Taylor said he wouldn't hesitate to tell him the hard truth: "They didn't have a chance."

Calgary Herald. Wednesday March 1, 2000. Section B9. "Staying together for the sake of the kids." Hildegarde Chambers.

Sig Taylor, who runs Steps to Better Relationships Classes in Calgary, says he's seen couples who basically love each other improve simply by learning some relationship skills. "It makes an incredible difference."

Macleans. August 9, 1999. p. 23. "Love & Marriage." Ruth Atherley, Chris Wood, Susan McClelland.

"If you want to look at what is going on in your relationship, look at your sex life - it won't lie to you, " advises Sig Taylor, a Calgary marriage counselor. "It's barometer, and it's usually the last thing to go. If couples get to the point where there is no sexuality anymore, the relationship is pretty much dead."

Reader's Digest. June, 1999. pp 104-105. "Five Ways to Keep Passion Alive." Elinor Florence.

"It's almost impossible to kiss someone passionately if you're mad at him," say Calgary marriage and family therapist, Sig Taylor. "Resentment kills romance." So does dirty fighting, with tactics like bullying, screaming, interrupting, threatening, storming out of the room, psychoanalyzing your partner by making comments such as "You're just like your mother."
But a couple mustn't avoid all confrontation, says Taylor. Clearing the air regularly, using some rules for fair fighting, will eliminate grievance before they start getting in the way of romance.
Together for just three years, Christina Mack & James Turnbull of Calgary had so many receptive, hurtful arguments about money that some night she sleep in the spare bedroom. Fearing for their future, the young couple attended a local course offered by PAIRS, an international marriage education organization, and learned how to fight fair.
"We've resolved a lot of our conflicts about money; we don't let things build up. And we spend a lot more time snuggling," says James. "Our relationship is 100% better."
Taylor suggests couples clear the air on a regular basis. For some, once a week might be necessary; for others, once a month. Make an appointment to have a fair fight - state the issues clearly, stick to the point, and decide together how to resolve them. Couples who follow these steps are so invigorated by the release of tensions their feelings for each other are renewed.
Christina agrees, "Now that we clear the air regularly, the romance has returned to our relationship. Not long ago a bouquet of roses arrived at my office from James. Each balloon had a little something inside, like a movie ticket or a scratch-and-win ticket. I got all fluttery, the same as when we fist dating. I thought those butterflies had gone forever, but now they've come back."

Globe & Mail. Thursday, May 13, 1999. Page B 27. "Is money ruining your marriage?" Mary Gooderham.

Sig Taylor, a marriage and family Therapist in Calgary, says that, because of that embarrassment, 80% of couple who get divorce do not seek outside help. Most us don't take any time to learn how to have a great relationship - we assume we know how to do that. He says money is because it is part of the "contractual" side of a relationship and covers a wide range of decisions, from how the rent is paid to what kind of car to buy. Mr. Taylor says couples need to schedule a time to discuss these contract issues, so they do not leak into intimate or fun time. You've got to talk about the money. If you can't, that's when the problems come in. A relationship is a livable set of agreements.

#203, 8-Parkdale Cr. NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 3T8
Tel: (403) 237-7501 Fax: (403) 237-5908
Toll Free 888-237-7522