So you just discovered your spouse is having an affair. The doctor just disclosed a diagnosis of a serious medical condition you thought was just a cold. Your life has been turned upside down within seconds and you don’t know what to say, think, or do. A crisis situation is considered any major life event […]

Years ago I heard an analogy that has stuck with me.  We are all buckets, containers in which water can be put into.  As we move through life, our buckets get little holes and the water begins to seep out.  This is normal as we experience the stressors of school, jobs, relationships, and other problems […]

Attention all parents!  Feeling stressed during this difficult time?  The struggle is real!  You are not alone.  Here are 5 things to consider that will keep you on the path to a healthier, happier experience as you journey through this time filled with the stressors of COVID-19.   Don’t Forget About You When we think […]

Have you ever had the opportunity to enjoy an inspirational movie, and it just lit up your world?  I oftentimes find myself choosing movies with themes that mirror my current situation or problem. It’s almost like the characters in the movie take on the role of the person or condition that challenge me, or subjects […]

One big factor that drives couples to seek counseling is the disappointment they feel in how their relationship has developed over the years. They enter the relationship with certain expectations and goals in mind. As they find themselves drifting farther away from what they believed the relationship would be like, a sense of frustration arises. […]

Persistent Depressive Disorder You’re the one always smiling and laughing to prove that you’re having fun in the social setting that you forced yourself to go to. You ask yourself, “can people see through my façade?,” and feel guilty for possibly pulling them down with you. Maybe joy comes in small waves. However, your laughter […]

“I feel so disconnected from my partner.” “We have different lives, like passing ships.” “It’s like we’re not even married anymore; we’re just roommates.” I hear these difficult words all too frequently in my work with couples. It is heart-breaking to realize the distance that has grown in your relationship after going through so much […]

Ever have those moments where you know something is bothering you, but you can’t quite place your finger on what it is exactly? Do you know general words to describe your situation, but then just draw a blank? Believe it or not, your therapist is not a mind reader. No one can tell you the […]

“Pessimistic prophecies are self-fulling.” – Martin Seligman, Ph.D. The topic of optimism reminds me of the common quote: “Life is what you make of it.” How one recovers from life events makes a critical impact. My summer reading currently consists of Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life written by Martin Seligman, […]