We all know and love that one person who never seems to say “yes” to our invitations. If they do join in, they are usually the quietest and the first to leave. To some, they appear aloof or perhaps anti-social. But we know better. We know that our friend or family member is ...

Even the most outgoing extroverts experience times when they feel bashful. Shyness is a normal and inevitable human emotion. Think of universal situations that take us out of our comfort zones. It might be a first date or a job interview. These days, making a phone call has become reason enough to bring ...

Your partner betrayed you. That much you know for sure. However, now you are hearing so many explanations, excuses, and justifications from them. “It just happened!” doesn’t cut it at all. Nor does being overwhelmed with emotions or feeling disconnected from you (although the latter does make more sense than the others). The issue now is that your ...

How do you improve your performance when it’s so easy to get caught in a spiral of negative thoughts? Sometimes, it can feel like the voice in your head is your worst enemy. When it seems like your subconscious is always feeding you lines that do nothing but bring you down, it’s time ...

Becoming a parent changes almost everything about your life. It’s one of the most amazing experiences anyone can go through. But, it also requires a lot of adjustment.  Many people have fantasies about what it will be like to become a new parent. Do you have visions of gently rocking your baby to sleep, ...

If you run a private practice, you may be curious about the benefits of getting on an insurance panel. It is true that joining insurance panels can open you up to a whole new pool of clients who will be able to afford your services through their insurance provider. But it is not ...

Have you ever heard of “the sandwich generation?” You may be a part of it without even realizing it. It’s a term commonly used to describe adults who are stuck in the middle of two generational bookends. They have children to take care of, as well as elderly parents.  Caretaking, in any form, is ...

Is your life limited by the irrational fear that characterizes an unrelenting phobia? If so, you know that fright and avoidance can make life difficult every day. Recovery and relief are not out of reach for you. Despite how you feel right now, the root of your fear and related unprocessed emotion are not ...

Is your teen anxious? How can you be sure? Maybe they are moody, jumpy, or prone to mysterious aches and pains that keep them home from school? Is that anxiety? Or normal teenage ups and downs? If you are concerned that a mental health issue might be a factor, then a bit of investigation is simply ...

Weekdays can be tough on parents and kids alike. Often, both parents have been away at work all day. Kids may be tired and a bit cranky after sitting in a classroom for hours. And if a parent stays at home, they are likely worn out from caring for younger children. Add the tasks of ...

Despite depression being a common mental health condition, it has a stealthy way of entering our lives under the radar. Feeling off-kilter one moment and frozen the next, you might wonder what hit you. Unfortunately, plenty of reasons exist why depression found its way into your life. Teaming with a therapist can help you ...

Everyone has heard of grief and has a basic idea of what it is. But not everyone fully understands the stages of grief and how important they are when it comes to fully healing.  Grief occurs when there is any type of loss in your life. Whether you lost a loved one, a family ...

Every day can feel like a battle when dealing with symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Doing things that most take for granted, such as going to work or attending class can become utterly overwhelming. Plus, there are social engagements that you are expected to attend. Whether it’s a team meeting at work or friends wanting to ...

We live in a time of increased awareness. This is partially the result of advances in science and medicine. It’s also a cultural shift. Individuals are far more able to openly discuss how they may or may not be different from standard expectations. These parallel factors intersect in a few key ways. One ...

A divorce is never easy, even when you and your spouse decide it’s the best thing for both of you and end things amicably.  Unfortunately, some factors make it even harder. Some divorces are very contentious and hostile. When there are children involved, emotions will run even higher.  It’s not uncommon to be angry with ...

It’s true, all couples fight. No one agrees on everything all the time. You’re bound to argue with your partner no matter how much you love them.  Fighting can be a good thing in a relationship when a couple does it right. An argument should happen for a reason. But it shouldn’t be an ...

You’ve tried traditional talk therapy in order to heal from the traumatic experiences of your past. But the hurt, pain, and anguish are still there. As are the nightmares, the feeling of constant danger, and the inability to sleep well. It seems like you’ve tried everything. What can you do now? Perhaps you have heard of brainspotting, but ...

Recovery isn’t easy. Addiction roots itself into so many aspects of your life. It also roots itself in the very way your brain functions, creating strong neural pathways. It gives powerful stimulation to the pleasure-seeking parts of the brain. Learning how to untangle your addiction from your daily life involves untangling it from ...

Most people like receiving gifts, especially in a relationship. But, there’s a difference between getting someone presents and giving them meaningful gifts.  When it comes to a relationship, that difference is essential to understand so your partner can truly feel loved, understood, and appreciated.  What is a meaningful gift, exactly? In short, it’s something with ...

It’s not easy being sober during the holidays. For many, “Holiday Cheer” means drinking. Either it’s a glass of wine at dinner, a beer while watching the big game, or champagne at New Year’s. This landscape makes it challenging if you are in recovery. On the one hand, you don’t want to compromise your recovery and ...

According to research done by Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, people either have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset.  These terms refer to how we grow and learn as people. When it comes to these different types of mindset in the business world, learning whether you have a growth mindset or a fixed ...

Parents often dread or fear having conversations about sex with their children. They fear the awkwardness of the conversation. But in reality, there’s nothing awkward about it! It’s a parent’s job to safely and maturely guide their children into adulthood, and one of the biggest factors is learning about sex. If you’re dreading that talk, ...

Premarital counseling isn’t necessarily for everyone. But it can absolutely be beneficial for some couples who are getting ready to make a lifelong commitment. Knowing whether you will benefit from premarital counseling can help you to make an informed decision about seeking it out.  Chances are, you’ve been so caught up in the bliss ...

New York City is the city that never sleeps. So if you often find yourself out at the bars until the early hours of the morning, it’s not a surprise. But perhaps you’re starting to get tired of waking up with a hangover every Saturday morning. Maybe you’re done with checking your bank ...

“Two roads diverged in a wood…I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” These classic words from Robert Frost also happen to be the #1 quote most-liked by Sir Richard Branson. He knows a thing or two about risk, being the founder of Virgin Group. Everyone has heard that taking ...

When you have any form of a miscarriage, let alone an early miscarriage, it’s easy to start going down the rabbit hole of “if only.” You tell yourself if you had only had done this or that thing differently, then the results would be different than they are now. But this train of thought doesn’t ...

Singleness is a part of life for everyone at some point or another. At one time, you may have found being single to be fun, exciting, and freeing. However, things have changed, and singleness isn’t something you’re enjoying anymore. It can be extremely frustrating to be stuck in a situation that makes you unhappy. You ...

If you are running a private practice, you probably wake up each morning with an extensive list of responsibilities to tackle and limited hours to get it all done. Many private practice owners find that managing medical billing can take up a significant amount of time. Ideally, you would love to spend that ...

Infidelity is nothing new. However, thanks to global technology, it may be easier and more widespread than ever before. From sexting to emotional affairs to the more standard IRL hookups, the options abound. Where there is major temptation, there usually are major problems. Rather than choose denial by believing it could “never” happen in ...

The world you’re raising your kids in today is probably very different from the world you grew up in. Society has changed rapidly over the past few decades, and despite what we may see on the news, the world is actually safer for children than ever before. But we still can’t protect our ...

Your attachment style describes how you relate to others as an adult, especially in the context of close, personal relationships. How did you develop your attachment style? It’s generally rooted in behaviors you learned from the adults who raised you, and it corresponds to how you “attached” to others as a child. For ...

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” It’s meaning is clear—it’s hard for people to change. Many people struggle with adapting or altering their patterns, especially when it comes to relationships. You might have even been told this yourself a time or two. What if it were possible to ...

You’ve noticed your son or daughter has been more withdrawn lately. They don’t laugh the way they once did, and they seem more anxious. Pained expressions and furrowed brows cross their face when they’re using social media. Finally, you come across them crying one day, and they admit someone has bullied them. Knowing that your ...

As a highly successful, intelligent adult, you may find many things come quite natural to you. School, work, intelligence—it’s often felt like you genuinely do know it all. But do you feel other areas of your life faltering a little? Do you feel overwhelmed or frustrated when you can’t perfect a situation? Or are ...

Okay, now things are getting really out of control. Your teen’s behavior has reached new lows and is creating a crisis in the family. Just yesterday, you learned that they stole money from their younger sibling’s piggyback to buy marijuana. Then, there was the argument of all arguments. You said things that you regret, and they punched ...

An affair can shake a marriage to its core, but it doesn’t automatically mean the relationship has to end. If both parties are willing to work through it, your marriage can end up stronger than ever after an affair.  Communication and trust are vital when it comes to the rebuilding process. Another critical aspect ...

Much has been written and said about how technology causes stress and anxiety. It causes us to be distracted, affects our sleep, and keeps us from creating healthy connections with other people in the real world. Obviously, these are big problems connected with digital technology that can negatively impact your life. And that’s especially true ...

You and your partner are smart people. You want to get married but you know better than to rush into it. After all, everyone knows how tough it is to keep a longterm relationship healthy and gratifying. Especially when we’ve seen so many lovely Saturdays spent in bridal heaven devolve into divorce court and ...

Remember when the holidays were fun? Perhaps, like most people, you had to hark back to early childhood to answer that question accurately. Let’s face it, the holiday season can be joyous and fun, but it has also become synonymous with stress. Travel plans, enormous expenses, reuniting with contentious relatives—you must juggle all of ...

It sounds like a worst-case scenario and something that happens to other people. But studies show that about one-fourth of men and 14 percent of women have cheated on their significant other. The numbers are probably higher because, of course, not everyone owns up or gets caught. Long story short: You may eventually ...

Depression is stubborn and not easily talked into giving up its heavy doses of dark thoughts, sadness, isolation, and fatigue. If you are fighting to feel better, you know that “getting happy” is truly a fight. One you lose often when you attempt to fight on your own. One that is almost impossible to ...

You had that dream again. All of a sudden you wake up with a start, dripping with sweat. For an instant, you’re not sure if you are still in the nightmare or if you are in the real world. Eventually, things start to settle, your breathing slows, and you realize that you are in your bedroom. Yet, ...

Every couple faces challenges and hardships in their relationship. Because of this, any couple can benefit from couples counseling or therapy. Lesbian couples face extra challenges, as they have issues that affect their relationships differently than others. Regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression, every person deserves to have a fair chance at making ...

DNA is all the rage these days. From crime shows to family testing, many of us are putting our trust in genetics. So, are we just products of our genes? For that matter, do the cultural and economic factors of our upbringing lock us onto a life path? Quite often, it feels that ...

Talking to your partner about couples therapy can be fraught with relationship land mines. One the one hand, you know that there are issues in your relationship that need to be addressed. On the other hand, however, you don’t want to turn your partner off to the prospect of therapy either. Knowing how to suggest ...

Anxiety is a normal part of adolescence. These years are full of transitions and changes, after all. Kids are occupying the strange space between childhood and adulthood. Everything they experience reflects this: changing bodies, friendships may end unexpectedly, school responsibilities increase. They feel pressure to set goals for the upcoming years. Or, they may be ...

Expectations can be tricky. More accurately, why we expect something to happen is tricky. A truly fine line to walk with your emerging adult child, it is probably something to do with balancing expectations with realism. They are at a time of transition. As children, we often believe that to expect something is to predict ...

It might seem a little ironic that self-esteem comes and goes throughout various stages of life.  As children, most of us have all the self-esteem in the world. As teenagers, that self-confidence can waver as we try to figure out who we are and go through some “awkward” stages.  When we’re finally an adult, it ...

It seems like everyone is giving online dating a shot these days. The idea of meeting that special someone on the Internet used to be a little taboo. But now, couples will happily own up to connecting through Tinder or OkCupid without hesitation. Even though online dating is much more popular than it ...

Do you ever miss the excitement of going back to school? Putting on your new first day of school outfit, packing up your backpack the night before, meeting up with your old friends and saying hello to new classmates—when autumn rolled around, the calendar always signaled that it was time for a fresh start. ...