There is a long history of women who were told they were hysterical for openly expressing intense emotions. Guest blogger, Laura Brownstone, LCSW has been a therapist for over 15 years. In this post, she shares her thoughts on the shame and stigma that fuels the impulse of self injury. I
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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
Try looking at anger in terms of the following 5 reasons for angry behaviors: 1 Seeking revenge. You feel hurt, so you want to get even and make things fair. 2 Preventing disaster. You feel helpless, so you want to take control. 3 Pushing others away. You feel discouraged, so
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
We would certainly take objection to parents who are not teaching their children to read or do math because we know how difficult life will be without those skills. Why is responsibility any different? When we do not teach our children responsibility, we send them into the world without a
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
As parents, we are probably all familiar with being provoked into a blood vessel-popping rage. We are instantly overwhelmed and any resolution we might have made to stay calm is eradicated. That’s because kids are amazingly good at refining behaviors that they can turn to when they’re disappointed or angry,
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
Managing your anger means not saying or doing things you’ll later regret. It means calming yourself, assessing situations with a cool head, and taking sensible actions. It basically involves making choices around four components of your behavior: 1 Expressing yourself 2 Taking care of yourself 3 Building up your tolerance
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
Forgiveness is the ability to let go of the past in order to move forward. Letting go of old wounds is the antidote to hurtful experiences and can dramatically improve your mood in the present. You may imagine that forgiveness is arrived at through a logical, rational sorting-out process. But
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
The more aligned a couple is on certain crucial dimensions, the better off they will be in the long term. Below are questions that can help to start thinking about how compatible a couple is: • Do we expect our partner to tell us the amount of money spent on
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
Unfairness arises in situations of powerlessness, disrespect and a lack of reciprocity in your most intimate relationships. Often in relationships you want something or someone to change, but you cannot make it happen, which fuels your desire to defend against this feeling of impotence. Sometimes you cannot even get your
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 12, 2019
You’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or maybe your loved one has. And you’re wondering, what’s the best treatment? What actually works? What the heck do I do? Because bipolar disorder is a chronic, complex condition, managing it can feel overwhelming and downright confusing. But thankfully there are effective, research-based
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger May 24, 2019
Stress is a big, broad term. It can come in many shapes and stripes. Many of the stressors that Patrice Douglas’s clients experience revolve around work and family. They feel “overwhelmed, unappreciated, and stuck.” Psychotherapist Stephanie Dobbin, LMFT, CGP, works with healthcare professionals, who frequently feel stressed about their jobs:
Read More Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger May 6, 2019