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From Blame to Responsibility: Taking Ownership of Your Problems
I, like many other people, grew up in a less-than-ideal environment. The circumstances got in the way of my personal development. At the same time, that environment contributed to and shaped ... Read More
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Finding Your ‘Tribe’: How to Make Friends in Adulthood
What Is a Tribe? Broadly defined, a tribe is a community which has shared interests and provides support to its members. A tribe can include family members, but it is not limited to them. ... Read More
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When Is Love Healthy? Attachment, Vulnerability, and Respect
Love is a topic that has never lost human relevance or interest. Poetry, songs, essays, novels, movies, and multitudes of self-help books focus on this marvelous, mysterious topic. Yet, ... Read More
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I Have the Worst Luck: Can Trauma Make Us Feel Unlucky?
Saint Patrick’s Day brings a barrage of green, four-leaf clovers, good-luck charms and wishes of good fortune. But many people, especially those who have a trauma background, feel like ... Read More
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Healing Our Boys: How Toxic Masculinity Is Connected to Violence
We are doing something wrong. When thinking of the recent school and mass shootings, whether I’m considering the issue of gun control, mental health awareness, or any other related ... Read More
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Understanding Maternal Covert Narcissism: When Mom Can’t Let Go
Covert narcissism, which tends to be expressed in passive or indirect ways, differs from what most people might imagine when they hear “narcissism.” Those with traits of covert ... Read More
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Achieving Optimal Work-Life Balance When You Have ADHD
What do you consider an optimal work-life balance? People may have slightly different views on what an “ideal” work-life balance is for them, but there is a general consensus, ... Read More
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To Find Yourself, Follow Your Truth: Authenticity as Self-Care
I had a conversation with a friend the other day regarding authenticity—a value that I place close to my heart. It seems, in these times of “fake news” and the questioning of the ... Read More
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10 Red Flags to Watch Out for in Your Couples Counselor
Starting couples therapy can be scary. Since 1995, when I was licensed as a marriage and family therapist, I’ve heard complaints from couples who’d been ready to make their relationships ... Read More
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PTSD and Self-Soothing Behavior: When Trying to Feel Better Hurts
Self-soothing is as natural to people as breathing. Even as infants, we quickly learn the soothing results of sucking our thumb when our mother’s nipple isn’t available. As we grow, ... Read More
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Healthy Self, Healthy Love: Characteristics of a Strong Relationship
Much has been written about unhealthy love and toxic relationships, but what about healthy love? When we think about healthy love in a relationship, what does that look like? Maya Angelou ... Read More
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Cultural Competency and C-PTSD: Why Therapists Can Never Know Enough
Complex posttraumatic stress, known as C-PTSD for short, is the result of prolonged series of traumatic experiences at the hands of someone the victim has a personal relationship with. ... Read More
