Emotional Codependency in Marriage and Parenting Relationships
Codependency has typically been associated or understood to be a dynamic that occurs with individuals that are addicted to substances and their partners or spouses. Today the phenomenon we call codependency can be associated with those that are in fact not using substances of any kind. Mothers and children, husbands and wives, friends and associates […]
Thoughts on Abating Anxiety, OCD & Stress
Anxiety and stress can be pervasive and wear on ones emotions as well as your body. Anxiety can manifest itself in a variety of manners, many of which are somatic, meaning in the body. It creates a chain reaction with symptoms of stomach pain, shakes, sweat, sleep difficulty, and fatigue. Most often anxiety can effectively […]
Relationships and Perception: Are You Sure?
I work with individuals and couples weekly that seek help in my office for relationship challenges. Some arrive due to issues of trust and infidelity while others are seeking answers to issues that stem from their families they grew up in. Most individuals, healthy or not, seem to battle or engage in a phenomenon that […]
Infidelity: Marriage Meltdown After An Affair
When Betrayal Breaks the Bond I recently heard a client ask, “I feel completely betrayed after finding out about my husband’s affair. Does it even make sense to do counseling if my spouse had an affair? Isn’t it over?” Betrayal and broken trust are among the most difficult obstacles any couple can face, and they […]
Strengthening Relationships Through Family Traditions and Rituals
With the holiday season approaching, countless events become abuzz with holiday parties, church and social events, and family dinners typical for the season. These events serve many purposes and when understood more clearly enhance, solidify, and safeguard your relationships and overall emotional health. Rituals are activities that couples and families create that occur on a […]
Recovering Your Identity
The term identity is one commonly used by developmental psychologists and researchers when referencing an individuals sense of ‘differentness’ or ‘likeness’ with others. Ones identity is often tossed around with terms like ego strength, self-esteem, individuality, etc. Many individuals find that they need to ‘send’ or ‘broadcast’ a given set of values or beliefs in […]
Accountability, Responsibility, and Freedom : Maturity With Developing Adolescents
Teenagers bring with them a capacity to risk and explore their world similar to when they were toddlers. The difficulty is, most teens want the freedom of egocentric curious toddlers without the responsibility they need to bear as they are approaching young adulthood. Parents hope that as their son or daughter matures, he or she will […]
Boundaries: What They Are and How to Create Them
Boundaries are unwritten and unspoken lines that mark where you begin and end in relation to where others begin and end emotionally and physically. For example, we have clothing as a boundary not only to protect our skin but as a physical cue and symbol that you are you and that is where you begin. […]
How Do I Know If I Need Couples or Marriage Counseling?
Often individuals feel they may be candidates for counseling but are not sure and don’t want to make things worse. I have had many clients that reported being worried prior to coming in for counseling that they might make things worse if they stirred things up and spoke out about their marriage and the issues […]
Social Anxiety During The Holidays
The holidays are filled with gatherings, work parties, socials, and church events … all activities typically enjoyed by most people. For some though, they are not events that bring nostalgia and excitement. Individuals that suffer and deal with social anxiety find these events troubling and more of a chore than a longed-for reunion with family […]