When we have grown up receiving few affirmations from the people around us, it can be difficult to receive words of affirmation as an adult. You might find yourself feeling suspicious and wondering if you are being manipulated. This could …
Tag: Healing
How to Give Your Partner the Gift of Words of Affirmation
Words of affirmation can be incredibly powerful for people who received a lot of criticism as children. For them to hear that they are appreciated and loved for who they are is deeply affirming and healing. It allows them to …
How to Speak Your Partner’s Love Language
There is no better time to discover your partner’s love language than during the holidays. Take time to think about how you FEEL love from your partner. You might find that your partner can tell you a hundred time that …
An Intentional Holiday Season
It is so easy to get swept up in the spending, the drinks, the food. Have you paused to contemplate what you would like for this holiday season? Right now, take a moment and make a list of what YOU …
If Old Family Dynamics Get Triggered During the Holiday, Know You Are Not Alone And Be Kind To Yourself
A good friend of mine used to joke that he could always test how much work he had done on himself the preceding year according to how much he got triggered during the holiday season. It’s true, you can spend …
Regression into Childhood States
Our core childhood needs are: Attachment Freedom to be yourself, and to have your emotions and needs validated Appropriate limits so you learn self-control Independence, competence and self-identity Play When triggered by one of these needs not being met, you …
Why You Might Not be Getting the Support You Need
Can THIS person give me the support I need right now? If the answer is yes, great. If the answer is no, know that there can be many reasons why they cannot offer that support. Know that you deserve to …
Dark Night of the Soul
Fifteen years ago today, I married my best friend. It was, hands down, the hardest thing I have ever done. We came from different socioeconomic backgrounds, different cultures, different countries, but hardest of all, we came from different religions. We …
Being In The Darkness With A Therapist
Sometimes, we don’t get what we need from our friends and family. This doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t care about or love us. It might mean: they are triggered by you they are triggered by what is happening to you …
How do I Protect Myself as a Therapist
Do we need protecting from people? Sometimes, I think the answer is definitely yes, and sometimes not. Do I need to protect myself as a therapist? I like to think about this in terms of protective factors. I have been …