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Hi again! So, I’m a big podcast listener, and they are currently a part of what is helping me stay sane these days. I wanted to recommend a handful so far that I have really enjoyed because they are specifically helpful, hopeful, funny or all of the above. All of them acknowledge the existence of […] ... Read More
Well, I certainly never imagined I’d be writing a blog post with THIS title. And I am willing to bet you never thought you’d be reading a blog post like this. But here we are. So, let’s take some deep breaths together (I swear I am doing this as I type!) and dive into how […] ... Read More
“Do you have any kids?” “When are you having kids?” We live in a culture where these questions are part of small-talk – the questions around whether or not you have kids, whether or when you are going to have them, and all the surrounding inquiries can easily be asked and answered in the course […] ... Read More
As someone who has faced health challenges and worked with hundreds of clients who have had their own, I have a felt sense of what a unique, frustrating and scary experience it is. What a profound experience of knowing how fragile our bodies can be, and how mortal we truly are. The experience of having […] ... Read More
Do you feel like your workplace is a cesspool of dysfunction? I get it. I wrote a comic about that very issue: Here’s the thing: It’s not uncommon for work to bring up family-of-origin issues for people. And why wouldn’t it? You spend a huge chunk of your life at work, just like you spent […] ... Read More
It’s a tough time to be a sensitive-type. I, for one, am still waiting for the grown-ups to show up. Oh, that’s right: I’m a grown-up. And I’m right here. So, in the interest of looking for things you can do to help alleviate anxiety, calm frazzled nerves and/or bring down the poofy-tail, here are […] ... Read More
So, here we are, in – shall we say – a dark time? Things, overall, don’t feel so great right now. I don’t want to get into specifics, but for those of us who had bumpy childhoods with unpredictable, somewhat unstable parents, this is a tough time for many of us. We’re looking around and […] ... Read More
I love listening to podcasts. Especially podcasts that tell true stories. This American Life and The Moth are two of my favorites. Which got me wondering: Are there many stories about adult children of difficult parents? I had heard one awhile ago (the first podcast I recommend below), but I wanted more. So I started […] ... Read More
If you’re squeamish about the f-word, you may want to skip this book. If, however, you are happy to read and/or speak as if in the company of sailors, AND you’re looking for some direction on how to stop caring so much about any- and everything, to the point that you frequently feel: “…fed up […] ... Read More
Ever heard of a Highly Sensitive Person? Wondering about yourself or someone you love? Let’s start with the basics: Dr. Elaine N. Aron wrote a book, “The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You” in 1997 and it became a national bestseller. (I highly recommend this book to folks even wondering […] ... Read More
Ever wondered what a “grounding technique” is, anyway? It’s in the zeitgeist, but what IS it? Grounding techniques are what you can use when you’re feeling stressed out, anxious, panicked or having some type of emotional pain. Grounding techniques can be awesome. They can suck. They can be anywhere in between, because – turns out […] ... Read More
It can be hard to know how to have healthy boundaries. Especially if you grew up in a family that didn’t model or encourage them. In my last blog post, I wrote about enmeshment, and how it feels OH SO GOOD at first (which is how we get enmeshed), but isn’t so great for the […] ... Read More
Whoops. You seem to be in a relationship that is taking up A LOT of your energy. And it’s not always, like, fun energy: You spend more than 50% of the time feeling on edge because you’re worried about someone else. You’re trying to figure out what someone else wants so you can then figure […] ... Read More
I was asked a great question recently: “What do you wish your clients knew about themselves?” The first thing that came to mind: That they have superpowers. And most of the time, they don’t know that. Before you start wondering how much sci-fi and fantasy I’m absorbing, let me clarify my definition: A superpower is […] ... Read More
So here’s the deal: You don’t have to be “crazy” to go to therapy. Nor do you have to be “weak” (although you can certainly choose to see yourself that way – I’d argue the opposite for people who go to therapy). A common misperception is this: “People who go to therapy all have really […] ... Read More
I mentioned core beliefs in my last blog post and pretty much promised that “next time” I’d talk more about them. Well, here we are at next time! So yeah, core beliefs. Never heard of them? Heard of them but have no idea what they are? Let’s cover the bases. Core beliefs are basically beliefs […] ... Read More
You may be asking this question. And really, it’s more “What do you mean by ‘difficult’ parent?” That’s the real question. You may have heard of Adult Children of Alcoholics. Adult Children of Narcissists. There’s a whole book written on Toxic Parents, even. As far as I can see, there’s nothing when you Google the […] ... Read More
Whether it’s a break-up, a death, the end/beginning of a job, or something else, let’s face it: Life transitions are tough. Even the “good†life transitions — like a new baby, a house remodel, or getting the job you always dreamed of — can lead to anxiety, stress and the feeling that you can’t quite get your sea legs. ... Read More