Couples therapy, for many individuals, continues to be seen as this mysterious, unforeseeable process that can be very anxiety-provoking to embark upon. Depending on your culture, beliefs and value system, turning to an “outsider” may be a very difficult decision for either partner. As a couples therapist, one of the … Read More
Listening Well: Asking for Support [Without Receiving Unwanted Advice]
Have you ever needed to sort through a problem or share a heavy emotional load with another person, but felt like there was no way to do that, without having to receive another set of opinions, perspectives, or advice that would probably just complicate the issue? So, then you just … Read More
The Science Behind “Flipping Our Lids”
Have you ever gotten really upset about something only to look back on it a day or two later and realize it wasn’t that big of deal after all? Most of us have had a similar experience. We find ourselves apologizing to a partner, child or co-worker for something that … Read More
Listening Well: An Experiment in Empathy
“An empathic response is restrained, largely silent; following, not leading, it encourages the speaker to go deeper into his or her experience.” Empathy does not mean, as we often think, “worrying about, praising, cheering up, gushing, consoling, or even encouraging. It means understanding.” (Nichols, 2009, p. 84) There are so … Read More
Cognitive Neuroscience Part 4: Teaching an old dog new tricks
Twenty years ago, most physicians, psychologists and researchers believed that the human brain stopped developing after a certain age. The brain could grow and change during childhood or adolescence, but not adulthood. On the surface, this makes sense. It is sometimes difficult to teach an old dog new tricks. However, most … Read More
Listening Well: Responding to Criticism
When was the last time you found yourself in an argument with someone? Who do you argue with most frequently? And what are those arguments about? Want a more productive option?? Michael Nichols, the author of “The Lost Art of Listening” shares a story about his temperamental cat that many … Read More
Decoding Your Break-Up, Part 2: How Do You Deal With Them
In Part One of Decoding Your Break-Up, we explored why break-ups feel so terrible. In Part Two, we will talk about how to deal with a break-up in a healthy, productive way. Time does heal all wounds. However there are definitely ways to speed up and encourage the healing process. … Read More
Helping Your Socially Struggling Child
All children struggle with something in life. For some, it is reading or math. For some, it is learning to tolerate the word “no.” For others, it is making and keeping friends their own age. Many parents feel incredibly helpless as they watch their child struggle socially, because while there … Read More
Cognitive Neuroscience Part 3: Scientific Proof that People Can Change
Can people change? It’s a loaded question. If affects our views on philosophy, religion, psychology, sociology and biology – just to name a few. What if I told you there was scientific research that strongly suggests that the answer is yes? Think about that for a second. Think about the … Read More
Family Bonding During Summer
The sun is out more, the days are feeling longer, and children are getting antsy. Summer is right around the corner! One of the questions I get asked a lot this time of year is, “How do I make the most of summer as a family?” While the upcoming end … Read More