CORE WORDS
“The Good Divorce” - A Review
One important part of divorce, outlined by Dr. Ahrons, is that there is no rule as to when the “new life” after divorce begins, and when the “old life” ends.
The Courage of Living: National Suicide Prevention Month
One of the biggest myths of suicide is that talking about it will encourage or lead to suicide. However, this is another way that the stigma controls the narrative…
Attachment Styles: Strengthening Our Relationships
I will never forget witnessing a family friend tell my aunt “Stop bringing your child everywhere with you, she will be too attached to you.”
Somatization: When it’s More Than Just a Headache
How often do we hear complaints from people of stomachaches, headaches, and muscle tension, such as backaches?
Pursuing Love and Connection: Relationships After Lockdown
The COVID-19 pandemic has seemed to flip the world of dating and romantic pursuits on its head with both beneficial as well as challenging consequences
Working with Individuals Diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder
As therapists, we assist individuals who can acknowledge and reflect on their own deep-rooted emotions and maladaptive behaviors despite how painful and challenging it may seem. With a narcissist, the goal is not necessarily to change who they are, that is a recipe for failure.
If You Don’t Know, Err on the Side of “They”, and Other Pronoun Reflections
Being challenged on my pronoun usage by a 6-year-old brought about a lot of thoughts and feelings for me…
On Families and Systems: Who is in the Room?
My personal definition of family has always included grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. This is because of how I grew up; I was born in a joint family system, which meant that my parents lived with my father’s parents, his siblings and their kids, all under one roof.
Dogs and Daffodils: The Positive Impact of Pets and Plants on Mental Health
Through my relationship with my dog, my work with him as a therapy dog, and my clinical work as a clinical psychologist, I have come to better understand the interconnectedness of experience and the transformative and healing power of actively engaging with the natural world.
Un-flip Your Lid: Managing Your Emotions to Help Children Learn how to Manage Theirs.
Any parent or caregiver knows the feelings of love and joy that comes from spending time with kids…
My Experience with Restructuring a Diffuse Boundary within a Family System
Growing up in the African American community, I was socialized to embrace a collectivistic view where the needs of the family or community were given a higher priority over your own. “You must be there for your family, no matter what” is a phrase that was constantly communicated to me throughout my life.
Self-Care: Why It’s Important and How to Implement It
“You are no good to others if you do not take care of yourself” - I was told this repeatedly for years before I finally understood what it meant.
Singing the Baby Blues: Strategies for Surviving the Newborn Period in a Pandemic
Having a newborn at any point in a person’s life is exciting, challenging, and scary and requires a period of time to adjust to the new reality.
Shifting the Bar – Continuing Self-Care through Difficult Times
It would be an understatement to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected how we conduct our daily lives. Many businesses are closed, and many are not operating at full capacity.
Finding Worth from Within in an Achievement-Driven World
Of course, it’s healthy to feel good and proud of our achievements. What is not healthy is needing to be better than others in order to feel good about who we are, or worthy as a person.
Life as a Minority: Is Healthcare, Self-care?
As a minority in the United States, I have had to weigh my options. Not only in terms of the vaccines effectiveness but also in terms of level of trust in the healthcare system.
Burnout During a Pandemic- How to Identify and Resolve it
2020 was quite an exhausting year…
Bicultural Relationships: Navigating the Holidays
Navigating cultural differences in multicultural relationships can be challenging, but it also presents the opportunity to honor both origins and share meaningful traditions together.