Secrets in Relationships- Good or Bad?
Most of us can remember the delight and hushed tones with which we told (or were told) our very first secrets, and perhaps the pain of exclusion at the secrets we were not told in our earliest friendships as […]
Speaking Up in Relationships
One of the challenges for people who don’t speak up for themselves is that everyone seems to like them that way. Whether it’s a co-worker, spouse, child, or friend- […]
Negotiating Boundaries in Relationships
While most people can appreciate the importance of marking at least some individual boundaries within relationships, knowing how and where to “draw the line” is not always quite that simple. As a matter of […]
Effects of Trauma on Relationships
One of the most difficult challenges in recovering from traumatic experiences, is teaching our “survival brains” to differentiate “real” emergencies or danger cues in the present from “pseudo-traumas”- experiences that look like past traumas but […]
During the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many people have been forced to engage with people in their lives who are not good for them in ways that are much more meaningful. If you live with a manipulator, the already stressful […]
Containment in Relationships
While the vicissitudes of ordinary discourse in relationships may be easy for many of us, this is by no means the case for everyone.
What can we make of the times when words are not treated as simply the best tools we’ve come up […]
The Hidden Side of “Special”
For many of us, our first experiences of being “special” to others happens naturally with our parents in our earliest days on this earth. Whether it’s the excitement we sense from them as they welcome us into this world for the […]
Fear of Rejection and Insecurities about Going After One’s Dreams
Feeling like others don’t support your dreams can be painful and frustrating. Trying to get others to see your value and finding people to support you when you’re feeling just slightly unsure of yourself can […]
Anxiety Disorders and Fear of the Unknown
One of the most difficult aspects of anxiety disorders is the fear of uncertainty, because uncertainty is everywhere. There are so many unknowns, especially in the contemporary world we live in- where so many surprising events constantly bombard us, […]
What are Narcissistic Vulnerabilities?
Many of the difficult people we encounter in life can be thought of as having narcissistic vulnerabilities. This means it is very difficult for them to regulate their self-esteem and that they are vulnerable to feeling very ashamed. These people often feel the need […]