Every so often our email accounts prompt us to “Empty the Trash.” We click on the icon and we hear this satisfying crinkling swoosh, signaling that the excess that crowds our inboxes has been eliminated. Voilà! We have successfully cleared things up, and there is now more space for what deserves our attention. As the […]
We often connect the emotion of grief with the loss of a loved one—through death, geographic separation, or a painful break-up. When a more internal kind of grief shows up in our lives, we don’t always recognize it as such. Clients may come to therapy to address symptoms of anxiety or depression, only to discover […]
Therapy is a serious business generally, but that does not mean it has to be without humor. As a therapist becomes more skilled, more seasoned, and more instinctively attuned, they begin to learn when the injection of humor can be appropriate, and when it can even enhance the impact of therapy. Of course, it has […]
Research shows that 1 adult child in 10 is incommunicado with a parent, and at least 1 in 4 Americans will break ties with a parent during young adulthood. Yet little has been written until recently about this, as few parents discuss this deeply painful and sensitive issue for fear of judgment, shame and vulnerability. […]
This particular week in 2024 is a time when the Jewish faith asks its members for “atonement” —it is an annual tradition to reflect and take responsibility. Other faiths and traditions similarly ask followers to atone, or seek forgiveness, at certain ritualistic times—thus, this is a common intentional act of mental reflection across cultures. The […]
It’s sweater weather, and Pumpkin Spice Latte season! The back-to-school supplies are long gone, Halloween costumes are front and center, and apple-picking reservations are being quickly booked. Why is the start of the fall so predictably exciting? Like the start of a new year, September offers a fresh start for many. On the heels of […]
It sounds obvious, but how often have you, or someone you know, played the, “let’s compare relationships” game? No matter how much is shared, we don’t really know the story of anyone else’s relationship, including its history, nuances, struggles, successes, quirks, and all the complexities that come with coupledom. One of the tenets of psychologist […]
The Serenity Prayer is an invocation for wisdom to understand the difference between circumstances that can and cannot be changed. It s one of the most powerful statements to come out of the AA movement, but it has good advice for all of us: Many of us have spent a lot of time and effort […]
In busy lives, gratitude is offen felt, and less often expressed. And yet, it is sometimes the thing we most crave from one another—to feel valued. Verbal expressions of “thank you,” and “| appreciate that.” can be the easiest and simplest ways fo express a sense of value to loved ones and strangers. Deeply meaningful, […]
On 100 mile trek in Spain, famously called the “Camino De Santiago” I walked clear across that country last fall. It rained 9 out of the 10 days, along with large wind gusts and fluctuating temperatures, up and down hill Our guide said, “Walking is taking your soul around the body of the world.” I […]
