Relationships
Boundary Setting – How Do I Say No and Mean It?
Saying “no” can sometimes be challenging and evoke feelings of guilt or discomfort. However, setting boundaries and learning to say “no” when necessary is essential for your well-being and personal growth and to have healthy relationships. In her book, Dare to Lead, Brene Brown lists boundary setting as one of the key elements for building…
Read MoreAre You Caught in a Drama Triangle?
When we continue to enable dysfunctional behavior, we fall prey to the Drama Triangle. Developed by Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UC, San Francisco Stephen Karman, the Drama Triangle consists of three roles, Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor. While you might see yourself and your loved ones as a specific role, in truth, each person…
Read MoreEffective Communication – Responding to Criticism
Whether talking to your spouse, boss, a friend, or the clerk in the check-out line, conversations can become difficult and sometimes that difficulty is because of your actions. Sometimes we have to hear critical feedback from others. Responding to criticism can be difficult but it’s an opportunity to learn and grow, especially if you approach…
Read MoreWhen Helping Hurts – Enabling the Addiction of Your Child
When I was a beginning therapist and working in community mental health, I witnessed an example of what happens when families fall victim to enabling the addiction of their children. One of our services to the community was to help complete the paperwork for involuntarily hospitalization for a loved one’s treatment. Two families came in…
Read MoreHelping Our Children Leave the Nest – Parenting Adult Children
I recently read an article about Bald Eagles. The most interesting part of the article was how they raise their young and how their young become independent. Baby eagles remain in the nest for about 12 weeks, with the parent eagles bringing them food. During this time, eaglets gain a pound every few days until…
Read MorePlay to Help Improve your Mood
Ever wonder what your therapists do when you’re not around? This day, I caught them playing! And as the head of the practice, I wholeheartedly support that! Why, you ask? Because play is an important part of good mental health! Benefits of Play on Mental Wellness Burns Off Stress. Dot-com companies have known for…
Read MoreKeeping Cool During a Child’s Tantrums
Tantrums can be so frustrating. It feels like your child is crying and screaming about something so unimportant. You may find it hard to keep your cool when you are so annoyed. Why won’t your kid be reasonable so you can both move on with your day? What can you do to help tantrums become…
Read MoreImproving Your Relationship with the 7 Habits
During the 90’s the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, became a big hit, because the habits worked. They worked so successfully that Covery applied them to improving our relationships and our personal lives. This article summarizes the steps to improving your relationship using The Seven Habits of Highly Effective…
Read MoreHelping Transgender and Non-Binary Teens
The first question we typically ask when a baby is born is “Is it a boy or a girl?” Traditionally, we see gender as binary (male or female). We assign a gender to our child based on the genitals that are present at their birth and we expect their gender to remain consistent throughout their…
Read MoreDepression and Other Mood Disorders in Teens
The teen years are a time of intense psychological, cognitive, and emotional change. Your teen’s moods change as frequently as the latest style and crises arise out of nowhere. Sometimes, though, your teen’s moodiness may be a sign ofsomething more serious. How do you know when to let it go and when to get help?…
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