relationship 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…

How Does Gaslighting Work?: Understanding Gaslighting and Learning to Trust Yourself Again

July 26, 2023

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

In my twenties, I was in an abusive relationship with a partner struggling with a substance use disorder. I didn’t know what was going on until I was way too deep into the relationship, and at the time, I didn’t know enough to get him (or myself) the support necessary. What I do know is that the relationship made me my worst self. My partner…

When Will I Feel Better?: Understanding and Combating Shame

March 23, 2023

anxiety counseling, coping patterns, culturally affirming therapy, depression, depression therapy, family dynamics, poor self-esteem, relationship challenges, self-image, social support, trauma, trauma therapy

As I prepared to work on this article, I tried to think about a time when I experienced shame that I could comfortably share to set the stage. Unsurprisingly, that prompted me to avoid working on the article for days… I was suddenly too hungry, tired, or distracted to write. It finally became clear to me that I didn’t want to share my major shame…

What’s the Point of Crying?: The Benefits of Tears for Mental and Physical Well Being

February 27, 2023

I have always been sensitive. Growing up, that meant a lot of tears and, unfortunately, a lot of frustration on my parents’ part. “Why are you crying?” and “that’s nothing to cry about” were frequent refrains in my home. When most frustrated with me and my feelings, my mother would say, “I hope you don’t cry like that at my funeral.” So I spent many,…

Why Can’t I Love Myself?: Learning to Develop a Loving Relationship with Yourself

January 26, 2023

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

There have been periods in my life when I didn’t necessarily like myself, much less love myself. After brutal breakups, when I wasn’t accepted into the college of my choice (or any of the places I had applied to, to be honest), when I lose my temper or am unkind to someone I care about, and when I am just struggling. Showing myself love is…

Two people sitting back to back with one facing the camera with a stern expression while the other looks away

How Do I Deal with Toxic Family Members?: The Mental and Emotional Toll of Navigating Harmful Family Relationships

December 22, 2022

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

In my family, we learned that blood is thicker than water. Our relationships with each other were to be prized, no matter the cost. So years ago, when I saw an Instagram post by another therapist I follow, a white one, suggesting that if you have a harmful family member, you should cut them out just like you would a malignant tumor, I was shocked!…

Why Am I Here?: The Importance of Connecting with Your Purpose for Mental Health and Wellbeing

November 23, 2022

anxiety counseling, anxiety therapy, depression, depression therapy, grief counseling, poor self-esteem, relationship challenges, self-image, social support, trauma therapy

If you had asked 5-year-old me my reason for living, I would have probably told you that I wanted to be an artist, a parent, and someone who helped the environment. As a child, I loved making things, had a ton of love to give, and saw the benefits of being of service. As I grew up, my immigrant parents tried to morph my passions…

How Do I Get Over a Breakup?: Tips for Coping with the End of a Relationship and Moving On

October 25, 2022

anxiety counseling, anxiety therapy, coping patterns, depression, depression therapy, grief counseling, poor self-esteem, relationship challenges, self-care, social support, trauma therapy

During one of my more devastating breakups, for days, I cried myself to sleep and woke up in the mornings to a pillow quite literally soaked with tears. I remember thinking that the pain may be similar to having an appendage forcibly removed. Reflecting on these details, they seem over the top, but these are my distinct memories of this time. I didn’t think I…

image of a person being embraced by another

What Makes It So Hard to Be Vulnerable?: Why We Avoid Vulnerability and Why We Should Stop

September 29, 2022

anxiety counseling, anxiety therapy, coping patterns, culturally affirming therapy, depression, depression therapy, family dynamics, poor self-esteem, relationship challenges, social support, trauma therapy

During a particularly difficult month, I had dinner with a dear friend who was going through a heart-wrenching breakup. He told me the details about the dissolution of his relationship, and I was honored to support him. Then he asked me how I’d been doing. After hearing about his pain and fears about the future, I questioned how much I wanted to share. While I…

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…

relationship challenges

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