Why do people lie? We’ve all been in a situation where we either know someone is lying or we have a sinking feeling they aren’t being truthful. Recently, someone I know lied to me. It didn’t seem like a necessary lie, so I decided to probe more to see if the truth would emerge. To my surprise,…
Money might just seem like an item or record used as payment. Yet, we all know that money is so much more than just currency and how we relate to it affects how we think of ourselves. In actuality, the meaning we attach to money is unique and our perception of it has been molded…
Feeling like something has been left unfinished, unresolved, or worse, left in a way that you never wished or intended, can be painful. Being left to contemplate and make sense of the discomfort can feel overwhelming or disheartening. When a relationship ends, how do you process emotions and feelings that you are unable to resolve;…
An entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, became known for his infamous quote: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Rohn believed that the people you spend the most time with profoundly influence your success, how you think and how you navigate life. Zoom out and take a…
I saw this sweatshirt on a social media ad, and I HAD to have it. I loved it! Anyone who knows me would probably be surprised that I’m enamored of a sweatshirt saying “I’m not for everyone.” Well, I’m a therapist, for starters, so aren’t I supposed to get along with everyone? – Yeah, that’s…
I’m sure you’re thinking What the What? How can there be too much empathy? Isn’t it the compassionate person’s superpower? Well, the answer to this is yes and no. “The state of empathy, or being empathic, is to perceive the internal frame of reference of another with accuracy and with the emotional components and meanings…
You are pushed to the utter limits of your emotional and physical tolerance until you can no longer carry the weight. Here, in this small space pushed up against an invisible wall, is where you finally stop resisting and succumb to the realization that you must stop and surrender. I asked several people what it means…
Our imagination is remarkable. We use it to envision new possibilities, create, invent and even help someone survive the unbearable. Imagination and fantasy are often confused and intertwined, but there is an important distinction: Imagination is based on reality and fantasy is not and it’s unrealistic by nature. In our relationships, we use imagination to help…
It’s hard to believe we are at the end of summer and yet this pandemic is still dictating our lives. With all the noise about how to process, cope and manage the stress, I wanted to offer up another form of therapy – humor. Even in the darkest of times, humor can provide relief from…
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.” – Brené Brown Having healthy boundaries AND knowing when and how to exercise them is a hot topic for everyone. It’s no wonder: The pandemic has magnified the dysfunction and resentment that can result from having poor boundaries or…