“Why is my childhood still affecting me? Shouldn’t I be over it by now?” Amy, aged 37, asked me at her first therapy session. “I feel like I’m complaining,” she said ashamedly. “I’m sure other people have bigger problems — real problems. I feel silly coming to therapy to talk about getting over painful childhood experiences from twenty years […]
Category Archives: relationships
What is an Anxious Attachment Style?
In my previous post, What’s my Attachment Style and Why Does it Matter?, I gave you an overview of the three primary attachment styles (secure, anxious, and avoidant) and how attachment styles become the blueprint for our adult romantic relationships. Securely attached people tend to have happier, longer lasting relationships built on trust. They feel comfortable expressing their […]
What is an Avoidant Attachment Style?
Approximately 25% of us have an Avoidant Attachment Style. In my earlier post, What’s my Attachment Style and Why Does it Matter?, I explained the three primary attachment styles (secure, anxious, and avoidant) and how understanding your attachment style can help you have happier and healthier adult romantic relationships. Securely attached people tend to have happy, long-lasting […]
My Boyfriend Won’t Commit
Fear of Commitment Do you have a girlfriend or boyfriend who won’t commit? If you’ve never experienced this yourself, chances are that you’ve had a frustrated friend who wants to know: “How long should I wait for him to commit?”. I recently contributed to a column on the website Love Evolve and Thrive about how to cope with fear […]
How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt
People-pleasers are sometimes described as “doormats” because they let everyone walk all over them. You can learn how to set boundaries without guilt, communicate assertively, and respect yourself and others.
Attract A Healthy Relationship by Letting Go Of Codependency and Unhealthy Caretaking
Sometimes we don’t realize that our care giving has crossed the line into codependency or unhealthy care taking. It’s not always easy to see when our behavior is no longer supporting a healthy self and a healthy relationship.
What is a Healthy Relationship?
My clients often ask me: “What is a healthy relationship?”. This is a great question because it’s not obvious or instinctual to many, especially if you were abused as a child or you’ve witnessed or experienced abuse in a romantic relationship. If you’ve had a history of abuse or other trauma, it can be hard to know what a healthy relationship […]
Conversations Infertile Couples Need to Have
Infertility is extremely stressful for couples. It challenges your decision-making skills, finances, emotions, physical health, and sometimes religious or spiritual beliefs. And although infertility isn’t uncommon, I continue to see couples suffering in secret. Guilt and shame in addition to sadness and frustration can lead to isolation. It’s hard to emotionally support your partner when you’re both experiencing high levels of stress, anger, and sadness. When you’re struggling to […]