In the simplest terms, to assert oneself is to be able to identify and express one’s needs to another person. And while this quality may come naturally to some people, many find it much more difficult to practice and deal with anxiety around it. This often comes up during relationship counseling sessions in our office. [...]
Fall brings up happy memories for so many people with thoughts of back to school and the crispness in the air reminding us of the winter holidays just around the corner. But for many people grieving the loss of a parent, Fall can be a slow slide into the hardest time of the year. Losing [...]
When things are not going well with your partner, you can begin to feel hopeless and helpless as you go around and around with the same arguments that never seem to reach a resolution. Overcoming these fears and walking into couples therapy for the first time can spark a feeling of hope that can [...]
Many people struggle with assertiveness and asking for what they want. Yet, being straightforward is often a quality those same people revere most in others. If you find you struggle with communication, this article from The Cut has tips on how to begin being more blunt. Our social graces sometimes undermine our ability to be clear [...]
In 1851, German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer formulated what has been termed the "hedgehog's dilemma," a parable about human relationships and intimacy. The parable goes something like this: when it is cold outside, hedgehogs move towards one another in order to be warmed by each other's body heat. However, upon reaching a certain closeness to one [...]
Holiday season is nearly upon us. Thanksgiving is the first and potentially most contentious holiday, since it was expressly created for the purpose of being thankful. If you struggle emotionally around the holidays, you’re certainly not alone. Giving thanks over food and drinks can be problematic for some, or maybe you are still feeling a [...]
If the thought of not using your therapy time as efficiently as your work time makes you nervous, you’re not alone. Many people begin therapy in times of crisis, when problems get to be so large and all-consuming that they need an outlet. Much of those early sessions are spent dissecting an issue, concentrating on [...]
Anger has become synonymous with political and cultural awareness, and outrage has turned into a defense against powerlessness. So the question is, how can you transform anger into workable energy? How can you mindfully channel anger in positive ways? Practicing equanimity in the face of what is happening today in the U.S. political arena and [...]
Ideally you can be good at being alone and being with other people, and enjoy and have time for both. A lot can get in the way of this, especially if you don’t feel like you can comfortably be yourself when you are with other people, or being alone scares you. Sometimes it feels like [...]
Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person was the most read NYT article last year and with good reason. Many of us are in long term relationships and marriages perplexed about the difficulties we face. Where is the soulmate experience, our other half, the person who completes us? Wasn't going through the difficulty of many [...]