How many times have you been in a conversation with a well meaning loved one and you were told something like “don’t cry”, “don’t worry”, “at least xyz didn’t happen” or “you know what you should do….”? What happened next? Did you feel heard? Did you feel like sharing more? My guess is you...
An Easy Way to Raise Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence
One of the foundations of emotional intelligence is being able to identify emotions. One way kids learn about how to talk about and handle emotions is from their parents, both directly and indirectly. How you handle emotions (yours and theirs) makes a significant impact. Yes, like literally being able to name a feeling. It...
The Other Side of “It’s Not Personal”
A few weeks ago, we talked about how important it is to consider the possibility that what other people do is not always about you. People are responding to you in accordance to their own past, their own assumptions and their own tendencies. This is helpful to consider because it helps with not taking...
Have You Been Thinking About Starting a Meditation Practice?
It’s one of those things, like exercising and eating healthy that you know is good for you but can be hard to do consistently, right? You know meditation and mindfulness practice has a physiological impact on your body. It supports your mental health and relationships with others and yourself. And, it’s an amazing support...
Looking at Process Over Content Can Change Your Communication
Until I trained as a therapist, I never intentionally paid attention to what happens in the process of communicating with someone. Communication just happened. As I learned what process vs content meant, I realized how much information is embedded in the actual process of communication. I spend time with clients in session often helping...
What Have You Found Out About Yourself and Your Life During COVID-19?
We’ve all been through some significant life adjustments in the months of quarantine. Some of them difficult to assimilate. And, there might be a couple that you found might suit you. No matter where you are in your stance toward the pandemic, the reality is that things are starting to open up again (for...
5 Instagram Accounts That Can Support Your Growth (and help detox your feed)
There are some great Instagram accounts out there that break down old ways of thinking and teach according to current concepts and findings in the psychology world. I love how these therapists, coaches and teachers are able to capture complex concepts and put them into digestible infographics or quotes. Following accounts like these are...
5 Ways To Balance Out Fear Coming Up Around the Coronavirus
There are a few basic emotional intelligence concepts coming up that can be helpful as we navigate this territory of the Coronavirus. Let’s lay the groundwork with those. Then, we can talk about 5 helpful thoughts that we can incorporate to how we are thinking about all that is happening. First, most things are...
Wouldn’t It Be Nice To Know The Science Behind What You Are Doing Right As A Parent?
Even if you are not a parent, this is helpful information because it helps you reflect on your experiences growing up, how it impacts your current lived experience and how you engage in your current relationships. Dan Seigel and Tine Payne Bryson’s new book The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who...
How Are Doing the Dishes and Dealing With Feelings Related?
Not everyone is convinced that feelings are important. I get that. If you are one of those people who is not totally convinced that feelings are that big a deal, this is for you. I explain it this way often to my clients… How hard is it for you to wash a dish? Usually...