One evening, while sitting in the local park with my children, the ice cream truck slowly drove up, playing that infamous and decidedly repetitive Ice…
Five Things Your Therapist Wants You to Know before Your First Counseling Session
Almost everyone knows someone who has been in counseling, but that doesn’t mean they’ve talked openly about what the experience was like. If you’ve never…
Forgiveness, Part 1: Forgiving Others
Love and forgiveness is not for the fainthearted.—Meher Baba What is forgiveness? The formal definition of forgive is to stop feeling angry or resentful toward…
Embracing Change
I was recently having a conversation with a friend about a significant life decision and she was providing me with all sorts of congratulatory statements.…
Yes Man, No Man
Do you remember the movie, Yes Man? It was released in 2008 and starred comedian Jim Carrey. It’s about a man, Carl Allen, living a…
The Golden Rule, for Yourself: The Wisdom of Self-Compassion
As a child we learn many different rules: Don’t talk to strangers, play nicely, share, say “please” and “thank you,” always ask permission, eat your…
Every Day is Opposite Day when It Comes to Social Anxiety
Social anxiety can be debilitating. It can keep you from you living the life you desire and deserve for yourself. It can stop you from…
The Power of Saying “No”
A statement I often hear from my clients is, “I don’t feel like I’m appreciated.” Feeling appreciated is one of the most rewarding, warm feelings…
The Opportunity of Discomfort
Thinking we can find lasting pleasure and avoid pain is what keeps us miserable, caught in a hopeless cycle of suffering–Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall…
Conflict Avoidance: Sink or Swim
When baby sea turtles are born, they begin their lives by struggling to get to shore by themselves. It’s a difficult time, and it’s possible…
Pathological Altruism: When Giving Causes More Harm than Good
Giving and putting others first is heralded as a loving act, a way to show how much you care for another person, a way to…
Getting Unstuck
Have you ever had the thought, “I feel stuck”? If you haven’t, consider yourself lucky. This is a very familiar and common feeling for a…
