Category Archives: Relationships

9 Tips for Coping with Family Visits and Holidays

Note: If you are going to be in an environment with abusive people, some things on this list may help you but others will not. In such a case, focus on safety planning for yourself. Get a therapist, a friend, or an advocate at a domestic violence program to help you make a plan. Enjoying…

Diet Talk: How to Respond

You are in line at a buffet and the person next to you says, “Oh my God, I’m going to regret this tomorrow!” Or you are at dinner with friends and someone says, “I wish I could have that but I’m being good today!” Or you are talking with a relative you haven’t seen in…

Bring Curiosity With You on the Holidays

Holidays with family are stressful. Whether you celebrate Ramadan, Passover, Christmas, Diwali or anything else, time spent with family over holidays can be difficult and make you feel like a kid again. So what are we to do? There are lots of ways to improve your coping strategies, learn better communication skills and find ways…

How Your Communication Style Affects Others

Sometimes it is helpful to understand the impact your communication style has on other people. While every interaction is different, there are some common reactions people have to different communication styles. If you are aggressive, other people may react to you with fear or anxiety. They may be timid around you because they don’t want…

Seven Ways to Use Your Smartphone to Improve Your Mental Health

Nobody taught me anything about using smartphones when I was in graduate school in the late ’90s. But I’ve counseled a lot of clients since then and found a lot of ways smartphones can be used to support mental health. Here are my top seven. Give yourself supportive messages when you need them. If you…

Four Things I Say to Couples

Couples come to therapy usually because they are frustrated with something about each other. Here are some things I often tell them. It is always possible that your partner will change. Over the course of a long-term relationship, many changes happen. But it is not wise to count on it. Your partner might not change…

Top 10 Reasons to Get Individual Psychotherapy

Therapy can be great if you have a therapist who is right for you. Are you wondering whether to try individual therapy? Here are some reasons to consider it: You feel stuck in some way and can’t seem to get unstuck no matter how hard you try. A good therapist can help you figure out…

Individual Therapy Is About Relationship

In order for individual therapy to be worth your time and effort and money, it has to be more effective than a popular psychology book. Right? Otherwise, you could check a book out from the library, read it, implement the suggestions, and be done. Some of those books have great ideas. Many are written by…

Should You Recommend Your Therapist?

Let’s say you have a therapist you really like and a friend asks if you know of any good therapists. Should you recommend your therapist? The answer is not as simple as it might appear. Here are some questions to consider. How close are you to the person who is in need of a therapist?…

LGBTQ-Friendly Psychotherapy — Part 3

Relationships and Families LGBTQ1 people have relationships and families and, like anyone else, may need therapy for relationship and family issues. Beyond the qualifications discussed in Parts 1 and 2, how do you know whether a therapist is qualified to help you and your LGBTQ family? Skilled LGBTQ-friendly therapists for relationships and families are: Comfortable…