Family gatherings can often be far more uncomfortable than we’d hope. Our families are the ones who mold and raise us, so we naturally come to the table with certain baggage. It’s all too easy to jump in with heavy expectations and find yourself disappointed at every turn. Conversely, if our expectations are too low, […]

This October, how are you working on yourself? The leaves are falling. The air is starting to resemble pre-climate change temperatures. Halloween is just around the corner, and autumn is in full swing. This is a time of year where everything is changing, and we are no exception. Transformation doesn’t stop just because we’re outside […]

Without self-acceptance, success can be elusive. When you don’t have love and compassion for yourself, everything else gets a whole lot harder. However, there is hope for you, no matter how distant your self-compassion may seem. Embracing who you are is something that can be fostered and learned, if you give yourself the opportunity.  Your […]

Focus: it’s something we all need, but it’s not something we always practice. Although it is often necessary to succeed in the practice of life, focus is something that many consider optional. With our phones in our pocket, and the world at our fingertips, we live in an environment where focus is becoming more and […]

Being resilient means being able to recover from difficult conditions. When we’re on the outside looking in, it can feel like an impossible task to stay resilient in the face of our obstacles. How can we recognize a resilient person? And moreover, how can we begin to recognize that resilience in ourselves?  What Does A […]

We all need to communicate. In order to forge friendships, maintain relationships, and deepen your bond with others, it’s necessary to effectively communicate. Learning how to both explain what’s on your mind while also deeply listening to others can be a tremendous challenge. But the good news is, humans have been learning how to communicate […]

Recognizing the inner critic can be a tremendous effort that takes a lifetime to fully master. But the rest of your life starts today, so now is the perfect time to start. The inner critic is the name we give to our intrusive self-critical thoughts, and if left unchecked, it can become your greatest obstacle. […]

Reuniting with our families can be a test of everything we learn in therapy. Yet it seems that family gatherings often leave us wanting to return to our old habits, and forgo using our toolkit altogether. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. It is possible to have positive interactions with our families while […]

Those who pursue control are like Sisyphus rolling the boulder up the hill each day, only to watch it roll back down each night. You can hang on with dug-in nails and gritted teeth for as long as you want, but ultimately the bitter truth is that despite our best efforts, we can only control […]

It’s easy to find ourselves wishing for more peaceful family gatherings. Thanksgiving is coming up soon, and with it, more than your fair share of complicated social interactions. It can be a struggle to manage the egos, desires, and personalities of our families, but learning how to peacefully navigate a family gathering is both possible […]