I am not a "Swiftie," but I feel the need to comment on Taylor Swift's latest song and music video. She has strategically used music to address the epidemic we currently face in our country. Emotional manipulation has become so insidious and subtle in our culture that the most seemingly innocent acts are being weaponized in relationships. Unfortunately, I have seen these tactics show up far too often in both individual and couples' work. People are often experiencing this man

If you have ever felt confused, drained, or unlike yourself in a relationship, you may have wondered what was happening. Narcissistic abuse is often difficult to recognize because it rarely begins with obvious cruelty. It can start with intense attention, charm, and promises—then slowly shift into control, criticism, and emotional confusion. It can be so subtle that it goes unnoticed. I equate it to a frog being placed in a pot of cool, comfortable water. He happily swims aro

Well, hello! Long time, no see! I have taken a bit of a hiatus from social media for intentional and purposeful reasons. I needed time to address some medical concerns, reflect on my own inner work, and consider the direction of my life. I never want my work—or my social media presence—to get in the way of something we all need to be doing: LIVING!! 😊 After more than half a year away, I am ready to share some of what I have been working on. For those who may not kn

AMA TOPIC: How to Build Healthy Relationships 1. What are Repair Attempts ? Repair attempts are any effort to reduce tension and reconnect during or after conflict. They can be verbal or nonverbal and don’t need to be perfect — they just need to be a sincere gesture toward connection. Examples of repair attempts: “Can we pause for a second?” “That came out harsher than I meant.” Humor, soft eye contact, a hand on the arm “Can we set some time aside to spend time together soo

In recent years, artificial intelligence has begun stepping into the world of mental health. Apps, chatbots, and virtual “therapists” now offer instant access to coping tools, guided meditations, and even simulated conversations meant to mirror therapy. For many people, this can feel revolutionary — immediate support, no scheduling conflicts, no judgment, no stigma. And yet, as a therapist, I find myself deeply unsettled. We are now facing the sobering reality that at le

On Sept 8, 2025, I lost my feline best friend. I have wanted to write about the experience, and what he was to me, but I couldn’t before...

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers hope for individuals facing emotional struggles, self-harm, and various mental health issues....

Healing from trauma and dissociation is a journey that many undertake. For individuals grappling with the aftermath of distressing...

I want to share with you some thoughts on the movie “Blink Twice," by Zoe Kravitz (2024).I watched this movie recently (twice, even!) and...

I remember the horror stories of Hurricane Katrina. I actually had several clients that I was privileged to work with that survived that...

Encounters with death and mortality change you. Things that once seemed so monumental in this life suddenly seem so trivial. Death has a...

Last night I was able to view the movie, “It Ends With Us” with my daughter. WOW. There is so much to say about this movie (more posts...

What is love? Is love positive affection for another? Is love physical attraction? Is love wanting to spend every waking moment with...

This post may be a little personal, but my ultimate goal is to highlight the benefits of having furry friends. In order to honor my...

Long before I knew anything about quantum physics or my two favorite laws (Law of Attraction and The Butterfly Effect), I was using...

If I may have your permission to wax counter-cultural for a moment.....I have a simple question. What does Christmas mean to you? When I...

Every November, I think of Thanksgiving. I don’t mean the American Holiday—where families gather with their famous delicious dishes and...

Have you ever been asked "How are you?" and answered "Fine" before you even realized it? When in actuality, you were far from "fine"?...

Over the last few days life has seemed somewhat surreal. We have been cut off from the world in many ways—no power, no internet, no...

We all have difficulties and stressors in life, and our ability to self-regulate in stress is even more difficult when we have a history...