Grief is one of those universal life experiences from which a person never really recovers but learns to cope with and grow through. When we lose people we love, the world is permanently changed. This is the price we pay as humans for the richness that our loved ones bring to our lives. Although[...]
Gender identity is a spectrum that describes to which degree a person perceives and recognizes their inner knowledge and outer expression of gender. Generally, this is the consistency between anatomical sex and the person’s internal maleness or femaleness or combination or neutrality. There are [...]
It’s my responsibility as a mental health professional to remember the history of the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual. Sexual orientation and identities were considered diagnoses that came with stigma and suffering. Homosexuality was considered a diagnosis until 1973, and [...]
Life is a process of constant change. Sometimes, major life transitions can throw us out of balance to the point where we lose access to some important aspects of our experience, we lose our sense of grounding and routines, or we disrupt our connections to others. Very brief, highly targeted [...]
Humans experience stress as a natural reaction to meet a demand or challenge. This “fight or flight” survival mechanism slows normal bodily functions like immunity and digestion to focus on breath, alertness, blood circulation, and muscle movement. The degree to which we react can be [...]
Intimate bonds are vital to happiness and well being. By feeling isolated from others physically or emotionally, the feeling of loneliness may creep in and overtake your happiness. It’s common to be physically close to others, yet lonely, because there is no intimacy, trust, or connection, or [...]
Trauma can stem from various causes and sources. It can be a personal tragedy, a natural disaster, a violent event, or any other type of unusual event. Trauma can take an emotional toll on the individual regardless of age. While it should be emphasized that there is no right or wrong way to feel [...]
What Is Self-Esteem? Self-esteem is your confidence in your worth, abilities, or perceived value. Healthy self-esteem is a precious psychological resource that correlates to good relationships, achievement, and satisfaction. Positive self-esteem can motivate you to navigate your life with an [...]
People would cease to exist without relationships. The sense of self dissolves without relationships with others, and by contrast, people are created and sustained within their social situations. Sometimes relationships are the primary reason a person enters psychotherapy, yet they are always an[...]
Our family structure helps us develop relationship expectations, communication skills, life outlook, the way we show our love, coping skills, and many traits through conditioning. Chronic family conflict can negatively impact your physical, emotional, and mental health. Tension and ongoing conflict [...]