Good planning and hard work usually lead to success. That is even more true when preparing your teen to become independent and capable of living on their own. But it’s by no means easy. Often, teens rush into living independently before they’ve acquired the life skills needed to succeed—only to pay the price. They end up ...

With claims like “it’s hard enough to share my problems with just one stranger!” many people are intimidated by the idea of engaging in group therapy. While individual and group therapy each have their own benefits, engaging in either form of counseling is the most beneficial treatment for anxiety. In some situations, group ...

If there was some magical thing that could make you happy, wouldn’t you do it? You would probably jump at the opportunity. What if that magical happiness activity was going to the gym and working out? If you’re already a regular face at the gym, this is great news. On the other hand, you ...

Your relationship with your parents shapes who you are. When they’re gone, a meaningful part of who you are is suddenly lost. No wonder it’s so difficult for some to make the transition into this new stage of adulthood. Yet, an orphaned adult may find that society, in general, doesn’t truly recognize their loss nor ...

It’s no secret that trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship. You trust your significant other in the little things, i.e.: “he said he’d go grocery shopping today.” And you trust them in the bigger things like: “she vowed to remain faithful until death do us part.”  While trust may be more ...

‘Self-esteem’ is a term we’re all very familiar with. An adult might experience an esteem boost after being given a raise at work; an athlete will most likely experience this after scoring the game-winning shot, and a student may feel the same after receiving the highest grade in their class. While there is ...

Exercise may be the last thing on your agenda if you struggle with depression. Getting your body moving can seem like a daily challenge, especially when you feel perpetually down or out of sorts. It’s not uncommon to feel fatigued, sluggish, or simply unmotivated to move at all. Interestingly enough, the very exercise that ...

It’s easy to get into a rut. Sometimes we take the people we love the most for granted. More often than not, those same loved ones get completely ignored. They deserve the biggest part of our attention, but we frequently find ourselves giving them the least. This is incredibly common. It seems life ...

Everyone feels sad at one time or another. This feeling may even linger for quite a while. Clinical depression, however, is much more. It’s not a temporary experience. It is a diagnosable condition that impacts as many as 15 million Americans. That’s almost 7 percent of U.S. Adults, at any given time. Overall, roughly ...

In my last blog post, I’ve discussed the first four components of my preferred choice of relationship therapy: The Gottman Method. In this part, you will learn about Gottman’s final three components in creating a successful relationship. 5. Managing conflict Conflict is inevitable. It occurs in friendships, family relationships, work relationships, romantic relationships, etc. The ...

Most people think couples counseling is only used to try to save your relationship. But if you’re in a position where things feel too good to leave but too bad to stay, couples counseling can offer an impartial guide. Couples counseling can help you make up your mind about whether you should stay ...

Decision making and discipline aren’t easy to navigate in any family. But they’re even harder in a stepfamily. To start, obedience out of love and admiration for the stepparent simply doesn’t exist. Eventually, growing attachment, trust, and love for the stepparent can open the door for acceptance of their influence and authority. But until ...

If you struggle with anxiety, then you know what it’s like to have to deal with inaccurate self-beliefs. Those negative thoughts about yourself or situations around you are not just a drag, but also affect how you perceive yourself. However, there are ways to cope with these beliefs and to change your inner ...

Marriage by itself can prove to be a challenge. Outside stressors like jobs, social obligations, and finances can add difficulty to the relationship. Sources of stress from inside the marriage can also put a significant strain on it. For example, having different parenting styles can be extremely taxing on partners. While each person has ...

People suffering from mental health issues often find it difficult to engage in therapy for a variety of reasons. They may be afraid to talk in-person, have scheduling conflicts, or find it physically difficult to attend an appointment.  Fortunately, modern technological advances have created an opportunity that removes many challenges to receiving mental health ...

When you’ve been troubled by the same problems for years and previous therapy hasn’t been very helpful, don’t give up hope. It might just be time to consider a new form of therapy. Dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, is a form of therapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. If you’re not familiar with ...

Preparing to leave for college. It’s not just a busy time for teens, but also for parents. The shopping, the packing, the moving, and filling out forms… and more forms. It’s easy to get caught up in this whirlwind of preparations and let the enormity of the matter inundate you both. But being a parent means you ...

Have you been finding that your conversations are turning into arguments? Are you and your loved one struggling to find common ground? Next time this happens to you try using these 7 communication skills. Communication Skill #1: Know When to Pause When that lively conversation begins to slip into an argument, know when to pause ...

For an extremely independent person, it can be incredibly difficult to learn to depend on others. Fear and frustration can arise when you must depend on—or even consider depending on—others for physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, or mental help. Putting your trust in others can be both terrifying and exhausting. Yet, it can also help ...

Handle it on your own. You can’t count on anybody but yourself. Don’t get too close to your partner. I’ll bet you’ve heard these phrases before. They’re a deeply rooted part of the American social ethic. We value rugged individualism so much that we think it’s risky to trust others. Even our closest relationships should include ...

 Sexual trauma has long-lasting effects that can impact the way you see the world. Whether you experienced a single traumatic event or years of abusive treatment, the impact can be profound. Rapid Resolution Therapy can help you clear your mind of the trauma and therefore clear the emotional feelings that you experience thinking ...

Substance abuse can break up a solid relationship. Despite the fact that your partner says it’s “under control.” Or “no big deal.” Or “none of your business.” Resist the temptation to bury your head and hope for the best. Whatever the substance: alcohol, prescription drugs, street drugs, or a mix… your relationship is at risk. ...

Although it may seem like an odd combination, control issues and anxiety go hand in hand. Where you find one you will often find the other. What is it exactly that causes the magnetic connection between the two? In short, it’s the fact that we humans simply cannot flawlessly control much of anything. It’s ...

Often, people approach the topic of personal boundaries with some apprehension. The intimidation commonly lies in that you assign your own standards according to an individual belief system rather than a collective one. Because the idea of these assignments is somewhat more abstract, some people shy away from the concept. Many people find boundaries ...

If you’re one of the many people struggling with depression, you know full well how it feels on a daily basis. It’s a round-the-clock battle that can really weigh you down. You may be feeling fatigued, unmotivated, or even isolated from the rest of the world. In looking for a reprieve, the simple act ...

Most of us know the parables about looking back on a long life. An elderly person or someone on their deathbed is asked about regrets. Invariably, each person wishes they had worried less and lived less burdened. Yet, when the story’s done, we keep worrying. It’s even become cliché to talk about how few ...

Stress in the American workplace has become so commonplace that it often seems like just another aspect of having a career. However, the negative impact it can have on your productivity, personal life and wellbeing shouldn’t be overlooked. In a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 36 percent of American workers suffer ...

Relationships end for many, many reasons. Some of those reasons are more painful than others. However, any kind of break-up is a form of loss. It’s a major change in your life. You are transitioning and this reality demands your attention. So, no matter what the break-up details may be, self-care must be ...

We all know and have used the common refrain: “It’s one thing after another.” But what about those times when it’s the same thing, over and over? The arguments we have with those closest to us can have a Groundhog Day feel to them. A few variations exist but, basically, it’s the same ...

College can be a memorable time for both parents and children. You might be caught between feeling proud and anxious about sending your child with ADHD to college. Your child, on the other hand, might be overflowing with excitement at this new and independent experience. Parenting a child with ADHD can be challenging. You ...

It’s been said that holding on to resentment is like stabbing yourself with a knife and expecting the other person to feel the pain. And that is so true! Resentment hurts you a lot more than the person you resent. That’s because the person who’s the target of your resentment may not be bothered at ...

You love your spouse and want to support them, but PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a complex problem. How can you help? There are lots of ways that spouses and partners of those who have experienced PTSD can help their loved ones as they struggle with this difficult condition. Educate Yourself about PTSD PTSD has ...

We live in a “go! go! go!” society. One that seems to have trouble slowing down or places much value on being alone. Today’s kids often march through the day, advancing from school to sports to tutoring to bed. Interaction with teachers, peers, and coaches happens constantly. Today’s adults speed along, from work to the ...

If there’s ONE thing that we can all agree on, it’s that life is stressful. We live in a world filled with high, and sometimes unreasonable expectations. These demanding societal expectations only seem to increase as time goes on. There are not only expectations placed on our career and work lives, but on our ...

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Sound a bit intimidating? Commonly, people don’t often use the word “cognitive” in their everyday speech. For many, it carries a sense of intellectualism that may be a little daunting, making them feel uneducated. So, what does it mean? Simply put, “cognitive” signifies something connected to knowledge and understanding. It has ...

Being a parent can be one of the best experiences of your life. It can also be an extremely challenging experience. You want your children to behave, but sometimes that takes extra work on your part. Here are 10 ways you can help your children behave better. 1. Make Sure They Get Enough Sleep You ...

Characterized by “antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong”, anger is an emotion that each of us has experienced at some point in our lives. Maybe you were betrayed by a loved one, didn’t receive the job offer you were promised or were blamed for something that wasn’t ...

You’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed. Our busy modern lives pull us in multiple directions at once, making it feel nearly impossible to keep everything in balance. Although we have a limited amount of control over our circumstances, we can manage our responses to them. Here’s how to stay calm when life isn’t. 1. ...

Are you struggling to overcome an addiction? Or are you trying to help someone do so? Either way, you’ve probably very quickly come to understand how difficult it is. In fact, the Latin root of the word “addiction” means “enslaved by” or “bound to.” How true and fitting those expressions are! An addict is enslaved or shackled ...

We all know the cliché: There’s some kind of new-fangled diet information being touted every single day. But, even under a barrage of click-bait article titles, there are some constants in the world of healthy eating. For example, choosing whole foods never goes out of style! What is a whole foods diet? The primary qualities of ...

These days, with negative news and reports coming at you from all angles, it seems only natural to worry. Sometimes it’s simply an automatic response to think and ponder on certain concerns. The problem that lies therein is the unfortunate ability of your mind to wander into a downward spiral of anxiety. You may end ...

Have you been saddled with financial problems for what seems like forever? Do you get down on yourself, carrying the burden of guilt and even shame for past financial decisions? You can move on from this problem, but in order to do so, you will need to forgive yourself. Own Your Mistakes In order to ...

If you take a random poll of the people you know, most will tell you they want a more comfortable life. The comfortable life is one that’s easy and free from stress. That’s the good life we’re working to achieve. But what if that view is wrong? Maybe we’re supposed to embrace discomfort and step out ...

What’s the biggest obstacle between you and the fulfilling life you deserve? There are many possibilities but no doubt, part of it is your self-perception. To have the life you want, you must first believe and know you deserve it! Perhaps your inner voice—and some people around you—have taught you that you’re never good enough. ...

Not all break-ups are a hot mess. Contrary to popular belief, separation and divorce can be done without high-end drama. You and your partner can move towards independence with your dignity intact. Is it easy? Often, it’s not. Is it worth the effort? Of Is it easy? Often, it’s not. Is it worth the ...

Do you often feel like your world is spinning out of control? Can you spot situations you can “fix” that would put a stop to the chaos? Do you often think that if people would listen and do what you recommend, things would be better for everyone? Sometimes it’s stressful for you to watch these ...

When traumatic things happen, your mind and body react. Sometimes you’re the victim. Sometimes you’re a witness. And sometimes a particularly disturbing experience can set up shop inside you. Afterward, you may find you live in a tense, on guard condition… in a constant state of fight or flight. When trauma claims your nervous system ...

Adolescence can be a difficult time. Your teenager is likely struggling with his or her identity and the newly discovered challenge of independence. Social situations can also prove taxing on a teenager’s mind and emotions. Furthermore, an array of chaotic hormones can cloud your child’s perception of the world surrounding him or her. When ...

When I begin seeing clients for couples therapy, the goal is to transform their relationship from good to great. I do this by utilizing The Gottman Method, one of the most empirically tested approaches in relationship therapy. I love this method because it’s a study with years in the making. Over the course of 30 ...

It’s always difficult seeing someone you love struggles with substance abuse, especially if it’s your teen. Not being able to keep them from making poor choices can be maddening and cause you to feel powerless to do anything. However, there are ways to help while also keeping your sanity at the same time. Help Your Teen ...