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Am I Codependent?
Codependence is one of those things that doesn’t seem to be all that bad. In fact, people who exhibit codependent traits and characteristics are often well-liked ordinary functional members of society.
Things could be a lot worse, right?
What is Codependence?
Becoming entrenched in codependence strips people of their self-esteem and self-worth. It has them believe that the only way they can be worthy is to put others’ needs ahead of their own. It makes them feel responsible for other people’s moods, feelings, and behavior and leads them towards trying to “fix” problems that aren’t their problems to fix.
Find out what the signs of codependency are and if you are codependent.
What is Discernment Counseling?
What is Discernment Counseling? Life changing decisions are incredibly challenging to make, especially when it affects other people. And of these decisions, deciding whether or not to get a divorce is one of the biggest there is.
For those teetering on the brink, discernment counseling is a form of short-term therapy designed to help couples make their decision after weighing all the options. It’s particularly useful for situations where one half of the couple wants to try and work on the marriage, and the other just wants to get a divorce.
If you find yourself in this predicament, discernment counseling is an excellent way to make an informed decision and not have to live with regret. Here’s what it is, and how it can help.
Is Child Therapy Effective?
If your child is struggling with behavioral issues or has experienced a recent trauma or loss, early therapeutic intervention is one of the best ways to help them cope.
Countless studies show how incredibly devastating unresolved childhood trauma can be, and how it plays a huge part in holding people back and creating a myriad of problems in adulthood.
Unaddressed behavior issues in children can lead to devastating consequences later in life, and the sooner a child learns better ways of getting their needs met or processing something difficult, the better.
If you’re wondering if child therapy is effective and worth seeking out, here’s everything you need to know.
How to Complain Without Hurting Your Partner… or Your Relationship
If only every couple knew this. It’s the strategy employed by married people who, 25 years later, still can’t get enough of each other.
It’s knowing how to express how you feel without hurting your partner’s feelings or immediately putting them on the defense.
Here’s how it’s done.
How to Manage Stress and Anxiety
How to Manage Stress and Anxiety
The past few years have been a lot. The uncertainty. Inflation. Politics. That underlying thought of, what’s next?
Balancing all of that, PLUS daily life. Let’s just say, if you searched “how to handle stress,” or “how to stop a panic attack,” you’re definitely not alone.
While a little stress and anxiety some of the time is totally normal, if you’re constantly in that frame of mind, it can wreck you both physically and mentally.
If you’re currently in that state, here are some tips that can help. It’s worth noting right off the top: the best way to fully extinguish chronic stress and anxiety is through therapy. Having the support of a licensed clinician who helps you navigate is way more effective than trying to soldier through alone.
If you reside in Northern California, please. Reach out. We offer counseling in Roseville and Fair Oaks, and always love the opportunity to help people reclaim joy in life, and feel better overall.
Teen Mental Health: How to Know When Your Teen Needs Help
Here’s something you’ve said or thought, probably more than once:
I’m so glad I’m not a teenager in today’s world—I’m so glad social media wasn’t around when I was a teen!
Yet, if you’re a parent of a teen you likely still feel some of what they’re feeling—plus an added layer: powerless.
According to a 2023 study by the CDC, almost half of teens—42% felt persistent feelings of hopelessness in 2021.
It’s more important than ever to be aware of how these things can impact the swiftly changing teenage brain, and be on the lookout for signs that your teen needs help.
The truth is, we don’t know the long-term effects of technology and how it’s shaping our young people. It hasn’t been around enough to develop any studies that have any real longevity. And that—coupled with the pandemic—the disruption to schools, education, routine and the world at large, has had quite an impact on today’s teens.
Codependent? Self-Care is not Selfish
Is self-care selfish? Memorial Day weekend was coming up, and I had three days off to decide what to do. Because I am balancing a job and my...
How to Love Your Partner Using the 5 Love Languages
If you don’t know your partner’s love language, or worse—you know it, but you’re not “speaking” it—you’re missing out.
Love is an incredible thing, and understanding and nurturing your partner’s love language is an excellent way to make them feel appreciated, cared for, and of course: loved.
Whether new to the concept or are looking for a refresher, think of this as the ‘Rosetta Stone’ of love languages.
From defining the 5-types to tips on expressing each—and more—this is all about Love Languages
7 Ways to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy
Are you your own worst enemy? Do you do what you shouldn’t and fail to do what you should? Maybe you know you shouldn’t eat certain foods because of...
Find your best therapist: Make sure the therapist is the best fit
From the Expert Roundup - How to Find the Best Psychotherapist? Secret Unlocked Nancy Ryan, LMFT and Certified Gottman Therapist, was one of the...
How Childhood Trauma Affects Adults
Kids don’t have a choice. They can’t simply pack up their belongings and leave a horrible situation. And rather than see the trauma or abuse for what it is, many adjust their inner world to try and explain it away, dismiss it, or make it “ok.”
Studies show that if left unchecked, the effects of a turbulent or trauma riddled upbringing have the capacity to haunt people for the rest of their life.
In addition, kids raised in unhappy homes are 40% more likely to have some type of cognitive impairment.
There are other less visible yet equally challenging wounds from childhood trauma such as self-esteem issues, relationship issues, and problems with self-regulation and self-soothing.
Let’s take a look at how the different types of childhood trauma—from mild to severe—has the capacity to hold us back… if we let it.
What is Attachment and How Does it Influence My Relationship?
You’ve just had another bad fight. Maybe, you spent the whole weekend fixated on your phone, and they never called or responded to your texts.
“It’s rude, disrespectful! You told me we should do something Saturday, and then…nothing!”
You were literally a bundle of nerves, hovering over your phone. You needed them to call—text—something with such intensity, you described it to your friend as though it were a drug and you needed a fix. When your friend called, you’d reached for your phone in relief, only to feel your stomach sink upon realizing it wasn’t who you were desperate to hear from…. Of course, you don’t tell your friend that part.
Have you ever experienced something like this? Something that you know is dysfunctional and toxic, yet you feel powerless against it? Where the intensity and desire for the person is so strong and all-consuming that it feels as though you must be soul mates?
If so, you’re likely caught up in a powerful force known as Attachment Theory.
Help for Depression: Using Journaling as Part of Your Wellness Strategies
Have you ever considered keeping a journal? Is journaling helpful for depression or anxiety? If you think about using journaling as part of your...
Ways to Increase Passion in Your Marriage
We all know how incredible it feels to be consumed by desire. Clothing gets ripped off, phones forgotten, and—you know what happens next.
As the years go by, what once felt so powerful and incredible dwindles. It becomes obligatory, routine. And that’s if it even happens at all.
In all honesty, most people experience intimacy dry spells in their marriage. If you find yourself in one or you’re just hoping to crank up the heat a couple notches, here are some of the best ways to reignite passion in your marriage.
Why Authenticity is Important in a Relationship
Is being an adult basically just trying to undo the damage that occurred during childhood—that and a hefty dose of never-ending paperwork?
Maybe.
Childhood is a confusing maze of trying to please adults while also trying to fit in with peers. From an early age, almost everyone is shown an example of who they should be, and a lot of that imprinting happens during our formative years.
The result? A lot of us have grown pretty accustomed to hiding our authentic self, or major parts of it. Find out Why Authenticity is Important in a Relationship.
Reach out to start your healing journey today