My client has a pained look on his face. One moment he’s on the brink of tears, and the next moment his brows are furrowed in anger. My client is struggling to decide whether to (finally) let go of his relationship. He longs to feel close, secure, and emotionally open...
How do you manage your feelings? Are emotions helpful or unnecessary? Are there some emotions that are okay to express while other emotions are not? How did the family you were raised handle emotions (i.e., anger, sadness, joy, disgust, and worry)? These are typical...
Trauma is something that every person experiences in some shape or form at some point in life. Mental health professionals refer to “big T” and “little t” trauma, alluding to the effects that a person experiences as a result of a distressing or overpowering...
Sitting in the afternoon light of my therapy office, I observe the faces of the couple across the coffee table. They are restricted, tense, and in pain. Hans* explains in a small voice that they have decided to end their marriage. His wife, Allison*, cries quietly...
Now that COVID-19 vaccines are more widely available for adults, updated CDC guidelines, and mask mandates lifting, I’m beginning to see signs of distress and increased anxiety in couples regarding how to maintain closeness while reintegrating into their community....
I first heard the term “codependent” as a counseling student in graduate school. I remember working with one of my first clients, who was going through a painful breakup at the time. I can still see her sitting across from me in that cramped university office, tears...
Let’s face it, trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance can be quite the challenge, especially given the demands of today’s fast-paced work environments and busier-than-ever family schedules. Not to mention, a raging pandemic that has forced many families to...
If you've been hurt by your partner's infidelity, lying, or other type of relationship distress, forgiveness may feel like an insurmountable mountain. While Alexander Pope said, "To err is human; to forgive, divine," it's important to note that forgiveness is a...