Have you ever been told “you need to be more assertive?” But what does that mean? How do you know if in your attempt to be more assertive, you won’t be coming across to people as aggressive? Being assertive is necessary to get what you want and need. But if you’re worried about how you’ll… Read More »
“My husband is depressed” What you can do about it
Have you been thinking “my husband is depressed” but aren’t sure what to do? I read a book 3 years ago that changed how I approached counseling. It’s called “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” by Terry Real. In the book, Terry writes about men and depression and the cycle of shame that comes… Read More »
Knowing when it’s time to quit your job
Hasn’t everyone had a fantasy of quitting a job they don’t like? Or making some kind of dramatic exit as they tell their boss what’s really on their minds? It’s not really like that. We can’t just quit our jobs at the spur of the moment. We can do that, but not without some consequence… Read More »
Why are relationship struggles so hard to change?
When couples come to their first session for couples counseling I ask them this question: “What would you want to see change in your relationship for this process to be a success?” What Couples Want From Their Relationships They want: “to communicate better” “to have better intimacy” “to get back to where we were” “to… Read More »
5 ways to deal with difficult relatives
I was recently talking to a woman who dreads family gatherings. She says, “It’s my cousins and aunt. Nothing I do or say can escape criticism or comments.” They still judge and tease her as if she was a helpless 12 year old. She’s 26 now. She tells me how much she resents this side… Read More »