This New Year, I didn’t feel quite as ready as I usually do to set my unrealistic resolutions like running a marathon (disclaimer: I never will because I hate long distance running, but every year I wonder…) or KonMari-ing my entire house (every year I say I will but still haven’t). Unfortunately, a family member
Read more
The “most wonderful time of the year” isn’t always stress free. Many of us feel overwhelmed by extra activities in an already busy schedule, finishing up end of the year work tasks, and the financial strain of extra expenses. Add to that extended time with difficult family relationships and you have a recipe for a
Read more
One of the things I have the privilege to do is to meet with parents who are looking for support in connecting with and disciplining their children. Many of these parents have sought out counseling because they or their partner are unhappy with their approach to discipline or with the reactions they are getting from
Read more
“The scars you can’t see are the hardest to heal.” Astrid Alauda Are you in an emotionally abusive relationship? Emotional (or psychological) abuse differs from physical abuse in the sense there are no outward signs, thus, making it more difficult to recognize. In this post we will unpack what emotional abuse DOES NOT look like
Read more
Summer always brings with it an influx of new couple clients, and I’ve noticed that there seems to be a trend in what these new couples are bringing to therapy. Perhaps because summer opens up some free time and creates a sense that we should get things done that we’ve been putting off, I see
Read more
Summer is a special time of year where we often have the opportunity to spend extended time with friends and family. It can be a wonderful time of creating lasting memories, or it can be a challenging time of adjusting to increased interaction with others who can be difficult to be around. Others’ opinions and
Read more
People who come to our offices for couples therapy generally enter the room for the first time with a list of things they want and need from their partners. The items on their lists vary, obviously, but a few themes stand out — more connection, more collaboration, more honesty, more support. Struggling couples come to
Read more
Lots of clients come into our offices stating that they want to be happier. Of course, this is a goal that we support. Happiness is ingrained into our very consciousness, and is even part of the basis on which our national identity is founded (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness!). But recently I’ve been
Read more
Couple Therapy Sterling VA One of the most interesting things I observe as a couple and family therapist is how societal dynamics play out on the micro-level in relationships. Recently, I’ve been struck by the frequency with which I observe “whataboutism” on my couch, and I can’t help but notice that this is similar to
Read more
Family Therapy Sterling, VA In my work as a therapist, I have had the privilege to work with and know many fathers who are engaged in their children’s lives and in nurturing them to become emotionally healthy individuals. In a culture that often portrays dads as either insensitive, bumbling fools or angry, vigilante protectors, it can
Read more
