communication challenges

Why Do I Feel So Anxious in Social Situations?: Understanding Social Anxiety and Cultivating Connection

August 30, 2023

anxiety counseling, anxiety therapy, communication challenges, culturally affirming therapy, depression, depression therapy, poor self-esteem, relationship challenges, self-care, self-image, social support, trauma, trauma therapy

An old friend was recently in town, and we made plans to get together. I was nervous to see her and her partner; we hadn’t seen each other for years, and it meant a lot that we were connecting again. Then, during our time together, I made a joke that I quickly realized could be harmful. I felt my face turn red. I wasn’t sure…

What is Intergenerational Trauma?: Understanding the Impacts of Intergenerational Trauma on Mental Health

May 28, 2022

anxiety counseling, communication challenges, coping patterns, culturally affirming therapy, family challenges, family dynamics, poor self-esteem, self-image, trauma, trauma therapy

A few weeks ago, my mother accompanied my children and me on an errand. We were in a familiar store, and my 6-year-old went up the escalator ahead of us and then walked off. My mother started to panic and stormed up the escalator, muttering that someone would take off with my daughter. At that moment, I, too, had felt unnerved but was trying to…

How Do I Manage My Anger?: Tips for Emotional Regulation in a Time of Collective Moral Outrage

April 22, 2022

communication challenges, coping patterns, family challenges, family dynamics, poor self-esteem, self-care, self-image, trauma

To say that these last few years have been difficult would be an understatement. In addition to living through the worst public health crisis this planet has seen for centuries, we’ve witnessed a global social justice movement aimed at combating various forms of systemic and institutionalized oppression that were further exposed by the pandemic, devastating humanitarian crises in Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Ukraine (just to…

two clear hands held out in front of a face that is blurry to communicate boundaries and saying no

How Do I Set Boundaries?: Learning to Care for Yourself by Advocating for Your Needs

March 18, 2022

anxiety counseling, boundaries, communication challenges, depression therapy, family challenges, family dynamics, poor self-esteem, relationship challenges, self-care, self-image

While the term boundary gets used often these days, it doesn’t mean it’s easy to understand what boundaries are necessarily, or what it takes to establish and reinforce them. My eldest started playing basketball this year, and while I’m typically not a huge sports fan, I was invested when it came to watching her play. One of the things that I quickly learned was when…

Why Does This Keep Happening to Me?: How Our Attachment Styles Can Impact Our Relationships

February 23, 2022

communication challenges, coping patterns, family challenges, family dynamics, poor self-esteem, relationship challenges, self-image, trauma

I’ll be honest, when I decided to pursue a career as a therapist, one of the motivating factors was the desire to better understand myself and my own relationship patterns. Yes, I wanted to offer others support and care, but I also wanted to learn how to better engage with others and finally figure out why I was drawn to the same type of dating…

Am I Codependent If I Enjoy Having My Needs Met & Meeting The Needs of Others?: Interdependence 101

February 17, 2021

communication challenges, coping patterns, family dynamics, relationship challenges, social support

What does it mean to “need” others (and to be needed in return) the exact right amount? Even though I’m a therapist myself, I’ve struggled with this in my own relationships. When I was younger, I sometimes relied on my romantic relationships for validation and sense of self, and was often crushed when I didn’t feel supported enough. Now, I’m in a different place: I’m…

How Can I Get Along With My Family This Holiday Season? Start With Acceptance

November 25, 2020

anxiety therapy, communication challenges, family dynamics, trauma

With the holidays right around the corner, and with the pandemic prompting us to recommit to social distancing, family has been on my mind a lot recently. And if your family is anything like mine, the polarization and stress of this year is making our relationships feel even more intense than usual. Everything feels heightened. It makes me think about the human proclivity towards black-and-white…

Do I Need To Go To Therapy Every Week?: 5 Reasons Why We Recommend Weekly Therapy

October 24, 2020

anxiety therapy, communication challenges, depression therapy, family dynamics, social support, trauma

My last session with a therapist was months ago. It wasn’t supposed to be months ago— at the end of our last session, I told him my schedule was tight the following week and he said, “Well, give me a call when you want to schedule something.” Even though I’m a therapist myself and I know the positive impact therapy has on my anxiety and…

Do You Worry That You’re A Burden?: 5 Tips for Learning How to Accept Help

September 18, 2020

communication challenges, family dynamics, relationship challenges, social support, work stress

“I don’t want to bother anybody.” “I don’t want to be a burden.” “I should be able to do it myself.” We are currently experiencing many layers of loss and overwhelm. For most of us, it’s a loss of normalcy in general: we don’t have the activities or the routines we’re used to. We may be feeling stretched by new work demands and remote school…

Can I Tell My Therapist When They Get It Wrong? The Short Answer: Yes

August 20, 2020

anxiety therapy, communication challenges, coping patterns, depression therapy, family dynamics, relationship challenges, social support, trauma therapy

I’m a therapist, but I’ve also been in and out of therapy since I was quite little. I’ve worked with some therapists that were helpful, some that were unhelpful, and some that, looking back now, I can see did more harm than good. In my teens and early 20s, what I would often do if my therapist said something that hurt me (or they seemed…

communication challenges

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