The holiday season is a time to make merry, reconnect with family and friends, and find something to be grateful for. But if you’re feeling like the holidays actually stress you out more than other parts of the year, you aren’t alone. With tight budgets that flex to handle dinners,…
As much as we might try, no family is without its share of problems. But for teens who are particularly vulnerable to mistreatment as minors, or who may feel resentful and rebellious as they form their own identities in adolescence, it’s normal to wonder, “Do my parents hate me?” The…
Anticipatory grief is the feeling of foreboding, overwhelm, and sadness that we might feel before experiencing a significant loss. Although our worries about the future may never come to fruition, that doesn’t mean that our emotions aren’t real. Anticipatory grief symptoms can be difficult to manage, though, especially when they’re…
Grief is something most people would rather avoid. But inevitably, the emotional whirlwind of grief and bereavement is a process each of us goes through in our lifetime. Grief is about loss—a loss of any kind, whether it’s the death of a family member, pet, the end of a relationship,…
Q: This is probably more common than I realize, but some of my family members have different political views from me. The fact that we disagree isn’t so much of an issue for me, but if at any point I share my beliefs and viewpoints, it feels like I’m instantly…
Do you struggle with expressing your feelings? Instead of calmly communicating how you feel, do you resort to lashing out in anger instead? Finally, is there no real rhyme or reason for why you react with anger? Anger is a natural reaction in many situations. It’s healthy to recognize the…
This is not a fun topic to write about. Parent-child breakups are painful for everyone involved: for the adult children who feel torn between filial duty and self-protection; for the toxic parents who can’t understand what they did wrong; and even for the children those parents once were, who were…
Family constellation therapy (FCT) is a way of helping individuals heal from family trauma and suffering that’s been passed down unconsciously through generations of their bloodline. Constellation work explores these intergenerational dynamics through body, mind, and spirit. The therapeutic approach is rooted in psychoanalytic thought as well as family systems…
There seems to be this idea floating around that on your last day of work or school before the holidays you tear off your business casual wear to reveal the snowflake flannel pajamas underneath, grab an overflowing mug of eggnog, and seamlessly launch winter vacation. At least this is my…
Hello. I am Hélène Diop with Thriveworks, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. So today I will attempt to answer the following question: “What should I do if a loved one is prejudiced?” So first, I will say, reevaluate “What does it mean to be prejudiced?” Also, making sure that you don’t…
Click here to schedule online counseling at Thriveworks. Hi, my name is Shontel Cargill and I am a Licensed Marriage And Family Therapist at Thriveworks. So the question that was asked was, “What do you do when you are having family problems during a pandemic?” I think that this is a fantastic…
My parents do not approve of my relationship. I am 23 years old and I have lived with my boyfriend (who I plan to marry) since February 2019. Since then, I am constantly getting told that this was a bad decision and I am constantly being asked by my parents…
