If someone has told you to “feel your feelings,” but you’re sitting there thinking “What does that even mean?” you’re not alone. I get this question from clients all the time. Here’s why it matters: The alternative is bottling everything up, and that never ends well. Your emotions don’t just…
As you’re getting ready for a big night out with your best group of friends, you start hearing the texts come through. One person is sick. The other forgot about a school function. It’s just not a good night. Can we reschedule? If your first instinct is to spiral into…
When our loved ones are away, there can be times when we miss them so much it hurts. We reminisce about having them near and recall the times we shared. But in some situations, the relationship just… ends. Whether it’s due to death, a breakup or divorce, military service, or…
In unhealthy or abusive relationships, many complex feelings and dynamics can develop over time. These relationships are rarely simple, which can make them difficult to end. In the case of trauma-bonded relationships, breaking a trauma bond can be a long and involved process. However, with the right help from a…
One of the hardest parts of therapy can be reckoning with our emotions. Emotions affect all of us, but sometimes focusing on the ones that feel good can cause us to avoid the ones that feel worse. However, though not all emotions feel good at first, it can help to…
Death and loss are experiences no one wants, and it’s never easy. It often leaves one different than they were before. Unfortunately, they are also universal experiences—everyone will live through some kind of loss during their life, whether that be due to death, job loss, divorce, or another source. The…
I’m a happily partnered mom, but no one has to explain to me the benefits of being single. I’m not talking about the joys of online dating and casual sex. I’m talking about keeping your own hours, eating what you want, and TRYING TO WRITE A SENTENCE WITHOUT SOMEONE ELSE’S…
Child discipline is tricky business: as there is a wide range of strategies and techniques that can (or actually can’t) get the job done. So which one’s do get the job done? According to science, the authoritative parenting style proves the most effective; this involves encouragement and clear communication. Another…
They say that friends are the family you choose. You don’t have to spend any ounce of your time with them, but you want to: You enjoy each other’s company; you support each other through the triumphs and the losses; you really get each other. Or at least that’s what…
Gaslighting is a form of manipulation and emotional abuse whereby the perpetrator leads one to question their reality, their logic, their intuition—everything they know to be true. This manipulative behavior is observed among friends, family, colleagues… and, of course, romantic couples. So, what does gaslighting look like in a relationship?…
A working alliance in therapy, otherwise known as the therapeutic relationship, is simply the relationship that exists between the client and his or her therapist. In this alliance, both parties have the same goal: for the client to make improvements and benefit from great change throughout the therapeutic process. It’s…
A key to finding success in therapy is building a positive relationship with your therapist and feeling comfortable enough to open up to them. Counselors use different techniques to help their clients feel more comfortable in therapy, and in turn, make for a successful therapy journey. First, it helps to…
