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Trust in Therapy: Examining and Addressing Feelings of Shame
Have you ever felt shame while talking to your therapist? Have they ever said or did something that triggered this feeling? I’m hoping your therapist has never intentionally instigated ... Read More
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Countering the Abuse of Power to Prevent and Repair Harm
When I was a child in the 1950s, my father talked about power, using the old fable about the relative power of the wind and the sun. In the story, Wind and Sun had a contest to see who ... Read More
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How to Keep Passion Alive in a Long-Term Relationship
Sexuality is a crucial energizing force in the lives of human beings. At its best, sex in an intimate relationship is an expression of the emotional bond between two people. It is best ... Read More
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The Discomfort of Not Knowing: How to Live with Unanswered Questions
Unanswered questions exist in everyone’s lives, and looming unanswered questions are part of what brings many of us to therapy: Should I leave or stay? Is this right for me? Why do I ... Read More
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Is It Abuse When My Partner Calls Me Names?
Dear GoodTherapy.org, I don’t think my relationship with my boyfriend is that bad, but some of my friends beg to differ. Mainly, they are concerned about some of the language he uses ... Read More
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Why Medication Alone Isn’t Enough to Treat Your Anxiety
Medication can be an effective tool in treating anxiety symptoms. In some cases, for some people, one small pill can lead to a great deal of relief. Especially for people who feel too ... Read More
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How ‘13 Reasons Why’ Hurts: The Danger of Glamorizing Teen Suicide
13 Reasons Why is a runaway hit with teens and tweens. Here’s what you need to know and how to discuss the controversial topics it introduces (and doesn’t always handle responsibly) ... Read More
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For Your Own Protection: How Complex Trauma Changes a Person
Although it remains explicitly absent from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, complex posttraumatic stress (C-PTSD) is a condition that has gained broad acceptance ... Read More
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Is It Healthy to Masturbate to Thoughts of People I Know?
Dear GoodTherapy.org, Some people masturbate to thoughts of faceless figures. Some people masturbate to porn. Some people have fantasies about characters from fan fiction. Me? I tend to ... Read More
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Break Up or Make Up? What to Consider Before Reconsidering Your Ex
When a couple breaks up, it is often inevitable that one or both of the parties involved consider the idea of getting back together. After a breakup, it’s often easier for us to look ... Read More
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Little White Lies: How Dishonesty Affects Intimate Relationships
When I think of white lies, I think of a true story about me and my mother. Not an intimate relationship, I agree, but still the sort of thing that could happen between married partners. Though ... Read More
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4 Ways Affection Can Hurt Your Relationship
Demonstrating affection can either bridge or divide your relationship. Generally, people tend to regard affection as a positive experience. However, the intention behind your affection ... Read More