What happens when you identify with the pain of people who have endured something terrible? Witnessing a horrible event or situation involving someone you care about can result in Vicarious Trauma or Secondary Trauma. When you identify with the pain of people who have endured trauma, you can bring their fear, grief or anger into your own experience. When we experience something so overwhelming, our mind and body might adapt to help us cope in the moment, but this also might leave us with unprocessed trauma down the road.
Read MoreA little self-love can go a long way! Whether you’re single or taken, it’s important to pamper yourself with the same kind of love and kindness that you’d shower anyone else with this Valentine’s Day (and beyond)!
Read MoreIt’s cold. The days are getting shorter and it’s dark by 4pm. For some, this provides a great opportunity to spend quality time focusing on themselves. For others, it can provide opportunities to spend quality time with loved ones like watching movies together on the couch, cooking a family meal or even exploring the seasonal changes outdoors (snowball fight!).
But, for those that suffer from SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder, it’s quite the opposite. You might lose interest in the activities that you used to enjoy or distance yourself from friends and family. You might feel sad, have a hard time focusing or experience fatigue that can limit your motivation, resulting in sleep and eating issues. Just remember, there is nothing wrong with any of this and you are not alone.
Read MoreAnxiety. It can be crippling. It can be messy and unpredictable. It can affect your quality of life. But, what if I told you that anxiety can also play a beneficial role in your everyday life? By learning how to cope with anxiety symptoms, you can better address habits caused by anxiety. And if channeled right, turn those habits into something beautiful!
Read MoreSometimes it can be tough to understand our partners. One partner might emotionally express love differently than their better half. Say hello, to Love Language: how we receive and express love in a relationship. Each person has a primary love language that we must learn to speak if we want that person to feel loved.
Read MoreNow more than ever, political viewpoints are popping up in our daily lives and that includes impacting close relationships. Navigating a relationship with a friend, family member or romantic partner who has a different political view than you can be challenging - but NOT impossible!
If you want better sex, you need to start talking about it! As we start a new year, I try to encourage my clients to explore how to make their relationships more pleasurable - in and out of the bedroom!
Instead of focusing on if you’re having ENOUGH sex, try to consider whether or not you’re experiencing enough pleasure and connection with your partners.
Read MoreHave you ever wished you had closer relationships? I’m not just talking about romantic relationships, but also friendships, family relationships, and even acquaintance-level relationships that have the potential to grow deeper.
Read MoreWe’re heading into the new year fast. There’s a lot to do and I’m sure your calendar is filling up, I know mine is! You might find that your thoughts are largely hanging out in the future - anticipating events, making to-do lists, booking travel, etc. Not to mention, come Jan. 1 the good ol’ New Years Resolutions start popping up in your social media feeds or are a topic amongst family and friends.
Read MoreHalloween is over, and that means the winter holiday season is here! Everybody knows that this time of year is incredibly busy. Stress runs high as schedules fill up with travel, holiday parties, gift shopping, and preparing for guests. Spending time with friends can easily get pushed to the back burner. If you haven’t received a “Let’s get together after the Holidays” text, it’s likely only a matter of time.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever told yourself, “I’m not good enough,” “Nobody likes me,” or, “All I do is mess up,” you’ve likely struggled with low self-esteem. Self-esteem refers to the amount of worth you believe you have as a person or the way you view yourself in comparison to the person you believe you “should” be. Research shows that individuals with high self-esteem tend to have more positive social relationships1 and better overall quality of life, while those with low self-esteem are more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, and addiction2.
Read MoreThe disappearance and later discovered death of Gabby Petito along with the speculation that her now missing boyfriend could have been the culprit has caused many to offer this advice: Trust your gut. If you think something’s off about a person, it probably is.
Read MoreWhat do updating your resume, folding laundry, and paying bills all have in common?
The answer: All are tasks that many of us procrastinate.
Procrastination is often attributed to laziness or poor self-control. However, there are several other reasons why you may find yourself procrastinating that have nothing to do with willpower. Understanding the reasons you procrastinate helps you create strategies for getting things done in a reasonable amount of time.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever called in sick, travelled across the country, or driven further over the speed limit than you’d like to admit in order to spend more time with your partner, then you know exactly how true this is. When you’re in love, it can feel like all the time in the world with your partner is never enough.
Read MoreFew things in the early stages of a new relationship cause more anxiety than texting. Most Millennials and Gen Z-ers are all too familiar with questions like, “When should I text them back?” “Am I overdoing it?” “Should I wait to respond because they took forever?” “How many emojis is too many?”
Read MoreOver the past decade, the practice of mindfulness has become increasingly popular. If you follow any mental health social media accounts or podcasts, you’ve likely heard of its benefits, such as anxiety reduction, greater productivity, and even better relationships. Often, when I suggest to my clients that they practice some form of mindfulness or meditation regularly, I am met with responses like, “I’ve never been good at that. It’s so hard for me to turn off my thoughts and have a blank mind.”
Read MoreWhether you are in a relationship, married, or single with most of your relationships being with friends, family, or coworkers, you’ve probably noticed how often other people do things that bother you. Maybe you really hate when someone speaks to you in a condescending tone of voice or when people are late. Or maybe it’s your partner never taking out the trash that’s been boiling your blood lately.
Read MoreYou’ve heard it all before: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” “Beauty is only skin deep.” “Love is blind.” But you’ve also been bombarded with the opposite: romantic comedies casting near-perfect looking actors, Cinderella winning the heart of the prince while her “ugly stepsisters” pined for him fruitlessly. Advertisements featuring stereotypically attractive partners leaving Kay Jewelers hand in diamond-clad hand.
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but sometimes, I feel like society sends us nonstop conflicting messages. Lately, I’ve been thinking about productivity, goal-accomplishment, self-care, and what it really means to live a fulfilling life.
Read MoreIn a world that seems to value appearances and social media followers above much else, it’s easy to believe that the best way to make friends is to put your best self out there- to make yourself seem as attractive as possible in hopes that others will be drawn to your appearance, engaging personality, or clout.
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