Change, no matter its nature, can be challenging enough. Often, well-meaning advice from family and friends can leave you feeling misunderstood, adding to your frustration. These strategies can empower you to find ways of coping with change that will work for you.

A strong therapeutic relationship is the key to successful therapy. The therapist is not a detached observer but an essential part of the process. Attending their own therapy increases a therapist’s capacity to experience and understand emotions so they can share a very human connection with their clients.

Childhood trauma can have profound, long-term effects on a person’s mental and physical well-being, increasing the risk of mental health issues and chronic disease in adulthood. It’s time to recognize the lasting implications of childhood trauma, do away with “victim-shaming,” and provide support to individuals who experienced trauma in their formative years.

Fights between spouses or partners often center on seemingly insignificant disagreements. These conflicts can quickly spiral downward. In these situations, it can be helpful to explore what’s going on beneath the surface.

Little t trauma, as opposed to big T trauma, refers to an accumulation of smaller distressing events or circumstances that can profoundly impact an individual’s mental health. Recognizing and fully processing little t trauma can help loosen its hold.

Receiving a first-time ADHD diagnosis as an adult poses a unique set of potential challenges. Among them is determining appropriate treatment beyond (or in place of) medication. Therapy provides a safe space for adults to holistically view their ADHD and learn to manage its symptoms.

Do you often feel like food controls you—versus the other way around? If you struggle with overeating, emotional eating, or wafting from diet to diet, you may believe that you have a food addiction. However, these symptoms can actually result from an eating disorder. Understanding the relationship between self-perceived food addiction, body image, and disordered eating is key to choosing a treatment option that’s right for you.

“Failure to Launch,” the title of a popular comedy from the mid-2000s, has become a prevalent syndrome today. Many factors contribute to Failure to Launch Syndrome, an often frustrating time for young adults and their families. Fortunately, there are many ways for parents to support young adults as they embark on their journey toward independence.

Negative thoughts can have a ripple effect, often resulting in self-fulfilling prophecies. It’s easy to get caught in negative, unproductive thought traps, but by harnessing the power of mindfulness, you can learn to control them, rather than the other way around.

Because depression and transitional grief can have a deceivingly similar appearance, it’s sometimes hard to tell which you’re experiencing—until you begin to explore the changes in your life and untangle your feelings. The sting of missing what once was is known as transitional grief. Recognizing it is the first step toward healing.

Procrastination can elicit feelings of disappointment, frustration or shame, triggering a spiral of nonproductivity. But what if you were to look at procrastination through a lens of curiosity rather than shame? The insights you gain could help you break the cycle … and start or resume the project you’ve been avoiding.

If you’re not feeling the holiday cheer this year, it could be a case of the holiday blues. It could also signal something more serious. How can you manage the holiday blues ... and differentiate them from clinical depression?

Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, I’m Glad my Mom Died is an incredible, emotion-packed account of one woman’s struggle to manage—and overcome—childhood trauma triggered by a volatile relationship with her mother. Through the lens of a psychodynamic therapist, the tale goes even deeper.

Teen rebellion is one of the leading causes of conflict between parents and their adolescent children. Some degree of rebellion is “normal and expected” during adolescence. Understanding and knowing how to handle this developmental phase is key to preserving your relationship with your teen.

Anger is an emotion that we feel when boundaries have been crossed. And did they ever when Roe v. Wade was overturned. As a therapist, I’m not immune to the intense emotions triggered by this decision, which will have a direct impact on women’s mental health. It’s time to channel our anger into positive action.

“Should I come back to in-person therapy, or is it okay to continue with virtual sessions?” As we collectively find our post-pandemic footing, many patients wonder whether it’s time to return to the therapist’s office.