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Letting Go of Rigid Independence: Why It’s Good to Have Help
Why is it so difficult for some people to allow themselves to be helped? If there was a spectrum on which one end was total independence and the other was complete dependence, where would ... Read More
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The Unique Grief of Mothers without Living Children
In my practice, I see many mothers who have lost their only children during pregnancy or early infancy. They show up at my office struggling with grief and feelings of isolation. Some also ... Read More
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Between Therapy Sessions: 3 Handy Coping Skills for Trauma
While it’s true that working with a good trauma therapist enhances healing, not all trauma work happens in the therapy room. Even when a person regularly sees a therapist, the trauma ... Read More
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4 Ways to Get Out of ‘Mommy Mode’ and Into ‘Partner Mode’
The transition from being a wife or partner to being a mother with children can be a difficult one. Whereas before you could give all your time and attention to your partner or spouse, ... Read More
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Is It Friendship If You Have Nothing in Common Anymore?
Thanks for your question. I guess the simple and perhaps even smart-alecky answer would be, “Don’t talk about politics and stick to sports!” I have very good friends who disagree ... Read More
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9 Tips for Talking to Teens about Dating and Relationships
It happened. You knew it would, but you didn’t think it would happen so quickly. In spite of any hope you had of slowing down the clock, you woke up one day to find that your child ... Read More
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The Most Important Thing You Can Say to a Sex Abuse Survivor
A friend, loved one, or family member pulls you aside to talk. He or she is normally quiet and reserved; this seems out of the ordinary. “I have something very important to tell you. ... Read More
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Resensitization: Coming Back to Life after Trauma
Trauma dysregulates the body. It moves energy levels away from baseline to extremes of hyperarousal (“too much,” panic, overwhelm) and sometimes hypoarousal (“low,” lethargy, ... Read More
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How to Handle Aggression in Your Child
In a culture saturated with violent images, parents naturally worry about their children and the influence of these images on their behavior. The question of whether being exposed to violent ... Read More
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Perfectly Fine: 5 Tips to Overcome Unhealthy Perfectionism
Everyone has an image of a “perfectionist” in their mind—the person with the meticulously organized house, the work desk without a pencil out of place, who works fervently day and ... Read More
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‘Hoover Maneuver’: The Dirty Secret of Emotional Abuse
People encounter those with narcissism in love, work, and family relationships. When I provide psychotherapy for survivors of narcissistic abuse, one of the first steps in the healing process ... Read More
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5 Reasons Discipline Isn’t Working with Your Child
“Discipline just doesn’t work for my child! We have tried everything and nothing works!” Does this sound familiar? Are you frustrated that timeouts, positive reinforcement, or even ... Read More