By Felicity Dineen 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 veggies to get dessert, and so many more. While every family has their own individual set of rules, there is one rule that almost every child is familiar with, and that is… Continue Reading »
Every Day is Opposite Day when It Comes to Social Anxiety
By Alexandra Ulrich, LCPC 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 going for that job. Or engaging in a relationship. Or even just opening up to people you’ve known forever. Social anxiety isn’t just the fear of meeting new people. It’s our… Continue Reading »
How to Identify Passive-Aggressive Behavior
Most people who come to me for counseling—whether it’s for anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, substance abuse, or stress management—are on some level dealing with a shame issue, a pervasive or occasionally triggered sense of not being good enough. Shame is part of the human condition; we all have it to some one degree or another. When we’re ashamed, we tend… Continue Reading »
If You Wrote a Letter to Yourself: Healing Shame
By Rory Scher, LMFT 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 in our life, and for most people, this is a relatable phrase. A good test to see if you fall into the group of people who could give yourself a break… Continue Reading »
I Feel Crazy, But Am I? Understanding Gaslighting
By Rory Scher, LMFT 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. One such type of emotional abuse is called gaslighting. Gaslighting is a tactic of emotional manipulation designed to create extreme doubt in someone’s memory, sense of competence, and ultimately, one’s sanity…. Continue Reading »
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 I had to name the single most critical aspect of any relationship, I would say it’s validation. When we’re validated, the other person “gets us” and we feel understood, accepted, and supported. Can you remember… Continue Reading »