Blog Search

Overcoming Post-Pandemic Anxiety

Overcoming Post-Pandemic Anxiety

As vaccination numbers increase and COVID-19 cases decrease, there’s no doubt that the pandemic is winding down. In every sense, it’s great news: there’s less of a chance of you or your loved ones getting sick, our kids are able to look forward to going back to...

What Do You Call Someone Who Has No Feelings?

What Do You Call Someone Who Has No Feelings?

Decreased Affect and Anhedonia This question was posed to me on an online platform. To begin, if this lack of emotion is observed behavior, it is possible the person is simply not very emotionally expressive. We call emotional expression affect . Therefore, someone...

Coping With 2020

Coping With 2020

Accepting Things We Cannot Control What a year. As of this writing, 2020 is three-fourths over, there is no end in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic and the most hotly contested presidential election in recent memory is less than three weeks away. Stress, depression,...

Tell Me a Story

Tell Me a Story

Enhancing Your Partnership with Active Constructive Responding There is a joke among mental health professionals that marriage counseling is about teaching couples how to fight. While there is some truth to that old joke, marriage counseling is really about teaching...

The Passive-Aggressive Partner

The Passive-Aggressive Partner

How to Recognize Passive-Aggressive Behavior in Your Spouse or Partner What does it mean to be passive-aggressive? The roots of passive-aggressiveness are in low self-esteem. Passive-aggressive people have a fear of, and therefore an aversion to, direct confrontation....

Why Do I Act That Way?

Why Do I Act That Way?

When was the last time you snapped at a partner, friend, or family member and then asked yourself, “Why did I react that way?” “Why did that make me angry?” “Why do I feel so ignored or invalidated?” Chances are these seemingly automatic, shoot-from-the-hip responses...

How Can Therapy Give Me Closure?

How Can Therapy Give Me Closure?

Closure is an artificial construct in our society. There is an innate human need to put our past experiences in a neat little box up on a shelf and say, "Well, that's over," but that is not always the case. Sometimes our experiences have long tendrils that will not...

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

"Oh, to be young, and to feel love's keen sting." --Albus Dumbledore Question: My boyfriend and I are both in our early 20s. We broke up 3 weeks ago after a six month relationship. This was my first serious, adult (post-college) relationship. I know it's over but why...

Couples Retreat or Couples Counseling?

Couples Retreat or Couples Counseling?

Are Intensive Couples Retreats More Effective Than Weekly One Hour Sessions? Generally speaking, I would recommend the multi-day retreat for couples who don’t necessarily have a specific problem, but are interested in growing closer and learning more about each other....

What Should a Therapist NOT Say to a Client?

What Should a Therapist NOT Say to a Client?

What Should Therapists Keep to Themselves? There is very little I will not say to a client; it's part of my job to be open and honest with them. It's more about how I say it. Emotional upheaval and poor coping skills are a recipe for irrational thinking and behavior....

How to Fight Fair Part 2 of 2

How to Fight Fair Part 2 of 2

Fair Fighting Rules for Couples Part 2 of 2 This is a list of ground rules for having a fair fight with your spouse or partner. In any fight there may be hurt feelings, but this list will help you avoid hurting each other unnecessarily. Remember, you are with this...

How to Fight Fair Part 1 of 2

How to Fight Fair Part 1 of 2

Fair Fighting Rules for Couples Part 1 of 2 No two people agree on everything all the time. It’s simply not possible. Whether you call it a disagreement, an argument, or a fight, every couple does it. It’s normal. It’s healthy. If you and your spouse never disagree,...

Six Differences in Couples’ Communication Style

Six Differences in Couples’ Communication Style

Six Differences in Couples’ Communication Style Many articles have been written about the ways men and women communicate differently. From a neurological (i.e. biological) perspective, the male and female brains process intellectual thought and emotions, and therefore...

Do I Need Therapy?

Do I Need Therapy?

Do I Need Therapy? Have you been thinking about counseling, but you don’t know if it’s right for you? It’s normal to start thinking about how counseling interventions can help improve your life, but like any significant life choice, it could take some time to decide...