Dr. Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT, explains there many infinite painful and distressing events which occur in our lives, and yet there are a limited number of responses available to us. She categorized these responses into four groups. I present these options to clients (and myself) when there are difficulties moving forward on a … Read more
Sexual fluidity refers to ways that sexual orientation evolves over the lifespan. Some individuals have a considerable degree of sexual fluidity, while other individuals experience their sexual orientation as primarily stable throughout their lifespan. Understanding sexual fluidity is important to decrease stigma toward individuals that may experience shifts in their sexual orientation labels or the … Read more
Through theories like Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and experiments like psychologist Harry Harlow’s infamous attachment study, scholars have demonstrated that individuals have an innate need for love, belonging, and relationships. Individuals often experience challenges getting these needs fulfilled however when they are faced with conflict while navigating their relationships. One of the most prominent … Read more
Managing Conflict between Parents and Adolescents regarding Gender Identity If you are a parent or adolescent with conflict or disagreement about how to approach the topic of gender identity, you are not alone. While each generation of parenting brings different challenges, conflict between parents and children regarding gender identity is particularly difficult due to the … Read more
Most of us have heard of seasonal depression and we tend to associate it with winter time. Less commonly talked about, yet just as serious, there are some of us who experience depression during the summer time. People do have less intense versions of this, and you may have heard of the “summertime blues.” Summertime … Read more
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills are categorized into four modules: mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. Each module has a specific purpose geared towards helping clients live their life worth living . DBT skills can be applied to an array of life problems and difficulties including grief. Grief, as many of us know, … Read more
If you have ever had the experience of going to couples therapy and leaving more confused or dissatisfied than you were going into therapy, you are not alone. Unfortunately, many couples have not found the clarity that they were looking for in couples therapy, and having put forth substantial effort to engage in the process, … Read more
“Shame is the warm feeling that warm feeling washing over us, making us feel small, flawed, and never good enough” -Brené Brown The physical experience of shame includes hot flushing, the strong urge to hide and put your head down, and difficulty speaking. Shame brings on self-critical thoughts such as “who do you think you … Read more
Mother’s Day is approaching quickly and as with all holidays, it can bring some uneasy feelings for some individuals. Most of us are brought up in society, believing and sometimes directly told that the relationship should be rewarding and close for both parties, yet rarely do we hear open discussions of dissatisfying relationships with your … Read more
It is no secret that humans have an innate need for love, belonging, and relationships. The extent to which individuals are successful in developing these things however varies depending on a host of factors (e.g., social involvement, personality, etc.). One of the most prominent factors that serves as a vessel for fostering and also deterring … Read more