Finding Reflection and Hope: Closing the Year with Intention
Finding Reflection and Hope: Closing the Year with Intention As the year winds down, many of us feel a mix of emotions—gratitude, exhaustion, nostalgia, and sometimes disappointment about what didn’t go as planned. The pressure to make resolutions or “start fresh” can feel heavy when we’re already tired. But what if December wasn’t about reinventing […]
Boundaries Are a Gift: How to Protect Your Peace This Holiday Season
The holidays often bring a mix of joy, nostalgia, and stress. Between family expectations, social obligations, and the pressure to make everything perfect, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. Many of us say yes when we’re exhausted, take on more than we can handle, or struggle to maintain calm when old family patterns resurface. At […]
AI and the Therapeutic Relationship: What we Stand to Gain and Lose
In the therapy room, we know that healing doesn’t happen just because of technique. It happens in the context of a relationship. The therapeutic alliance—the trust, the attunement, the rapport—is often the most powerful catalyst for change. It’s the safety net that allows clients to risk vulnerability, to revisit their trauma stories, to try new […]
Helping Teenagers Through Academic Anxiety: A Therapist’s Perspective
Academic anxiety is a growing concern among teenagers today. With the increasing demands of school, standardized testing, and future planning, it’s no surprise that many teens find themselves overwhelmed. As a marriage and family therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how academic anxiety can affect a teenager’s mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being. It’s essential to understand […]
How To Get Out Of Toxic Friendships
Breaking up with someone you love is a complicated process. But what’s more difficult to comprehend is ending a friendship. When you consider the amount of history both of you share, you might feel tempted to stay put in a toxic relationship. That may mean putting up with a lot of drama, unhealthy events, and […]
12 Important Conversation Skills For Couples
When you’re a couple, your conversation skills can draw you closer together or drive you apart. Do you give each other love and support, or do you resort to nagging and shutting down? You might assume that loving your partner would be enough, but most of us can benefit from practicing interacting effectively. In fact, […]
How To Successfully Co-Parent With Your Ex
Co-parenting children with your “ex” can be a difficult process. Your relationship has ended, but you still have a responsibility to take care of your kids. This is why it’s crucial that you learn to do whatever is best for the children. You can be successful in this endeavor by taking action to move forward. […]
Making Joint Custody Work For Your Family
A growing body of research confirms that kids are usually better off with both parents in their lives as joint custody becomes the preferred solution to child rearing after divorce. Familiarizing yourself with the benefits of shared custody and learning these strategies can help you make the best arrangement for your family. Basic Principles to […]
What You Need to Know about Alcohol and Anxiety
TV commercials encourage you to have a drink to relax. Social media constantly touts booze as the antidote to anxiety. We are barraged with messaging about how alcohol is the remedy for a hard day, tough parenting, stressful jobs, heartbreak, and on and on. However, the relationship between alcohol and anxiety is more complicated than […]
10 Critical Communication Skills for Couples
Communication is the cornerstone of any relationship. The quality of any relationship is no greater than the quality of the communication. Increasing the quality of the communication within your relationship might be the best way to enhance it. Unfortunately, interpersonal communication skills are rarely taught in school. We learn them independently. If you’ve never tried […]