Conflict is a part of life and relationships. Though having less conflict is a good thing, having no conflict ever is not a realistic goal. The question is whether you and your partner are behaving in ways...
The need to be perfect, perfectionism, can be a real challenge for people, impacting personal happiness and general well-being. Perfectionistic behavior can also negatively impact relationships. The problem...
Emotional safety is one of the most important elements of any happy and healthy relationship. Yet there are so many ways it can be compromised. Sometimes it happens inadvertently and other times it’s a...
The emotional backlash of an affair on the partner who was cheated on can be earth shattering. Whether there was suspicion of this happening leading up to the discovery or not, it all leads to a spectrum of emotions...
Criticism. Sarcasm. Disrespect. Repeat. These are just some of the relationship behaviors that some when reoccurring can leave you wondering, “How did I get here again?” The relationship may have even...
We humans have an innate, deep need for connection with each other. It can feel great when we connect but if not, it can lead to loneliness. Inauthenticity and emotional availability are just a few of the ways people...
Being emotionally available is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. It allows for openness, communication, intimacy and depth. Then why is being emotionally unavailable such a common problem for people? Because...
Most people know what it feels like in the beginning of a relationship when both of your brains are busy bringing you together, as in the “honeymoon phase.” Romantic love produces high levels of dopamine...
Alysha Jeney, LMFT, looks at a lack of sex in relationships, the layered cake metaphor and what sex positivity looks like. A lack of sex in relationships can vary from trust issues to health related dysfunction...
A lot has happened societally over the last several years. People have had to wrestle with numerous challenges and adapt. And still now many are contemplating where we are and what it means moving forward. When there...
Emily and Lindsay are two sisters living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety. Through their life experiences, therapy and a little inspiration, they turned their mental health challenges into a unique...
The stigma around seeing a therapist is not nearly what it once was. In fact, many understand that going to therapy doesn’t mean there is “something wrong with you” but rather there are things you may...
Self-blame, negative self-talk, endless pummelling by the inner critic and the relentless self-shaming that can hijack our minds and torture our hearts can effectively poison our trust in ourselves to cope and derail...
I would like to acknowledge aloud that I am tired. I feel like I’m in a rapid-fire Covid dodgeball game and the balls are coming fast, especially since school started again last week. The cycle of potential...
I was struck by an opinion piece by CNN’s Chris Cillizza about his Covid anxiety and why it’s spiking now. He talked about how his personal battles with health anxiety and compulsive behavior predating this...
Ouch. You suffered a painful breakup and have been mourning the loss of what you thought would be and the heartfelt crush of an ego bruise. Like for many others, it can hurt! If you’ve lost someone who you felt...
Amy Eden, an adult child of alcoholics and long time writer and teacher on the subject, offers insight into navigating the waters of being in love with an “ACA.” Have you heard the one about the confused man...
As much as worry and fear can bring us to our knees sometimes, much of what people get challenged by are not really about life changing, catastrophic events but rather things we actually have no control over. Many...
You may or may not be familiar with the term “family of origin” as it relates to therapy. When it comes to understanding how you function emotionally and/or in your relationships, it’s an important...
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Lisa Brookes Kift, MFT
Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Linda Graham, MFT
Amy Eden