As a therapist I often hear my clients describe having an ever-present, critical, nit-picking inner critic. They struggle with self-doubt and shame, unable to see…
Forgiveness, Part 2: Forgiving Ourselves
“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”–Maya Angelou Have you ever found yourself feeling guilty, even when you may…
Parents, We Can’t Be There For Everything
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…
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…
How to Identify Passive-Aggressive Behavior
By Marilee Feldman, LCPC, CADC Most people who come to me for counseling—whether it’s for anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, substance abuse, or stress management—are on…
If You Wrote a Letter to Yourself: Healing Shame
You’ve probably heard the familiar saying, “We are our own worst critic.” This means we hold ourselves to a higher standard than perhaps anyone else…
I Feel Crazy, But Am I? Understanding Gaslighting
We hear all the time that physical aggression is abusive; what we don’t often hear or recognize is that emotional abuse can be equally damaging.…
Validation: the Key to Successful Relationships
By Marilee Feldman, LCPC, CADC “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” —David Augsburger If…
Assertiveness: Why Does It Matter, When Others Won’t Change?
By Marilee Feldman, LCPC, CADC Counselors spend a fair amount of their time teaching assertiveness skills, because people frequently come in with low self-esteem, feeling…
Good Guilt: When Feeling Guilty Means You’re on the Right Track
By Marilee Feldman, LCPC, CADC Change is hard. When people come in for counseling, they want change, and often this requires that they themselves change…
Why “Should” Is Ruining Your Life
I grew up reading Harry Potter, and I fell in love with the story about rag-tag characters who defy all odds and come out on…
