As we head toward the 2020 election, the buzz of political tension seems to be all around us — on the news, in our social media feeds, and in our day-to-day conversations with friends, family, and colleagues. Not surprisingly, we therapists are hearing more and more about clients’ struggles to communicate productively with those in
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Have you ever wondered what your child is really trying to communicate to you? Sometime it seems as if kids have their own secret language. I was talking on the phone the other day to a good friend of mine, and her young daughter was trying to tell her something. My friend kept repeating what
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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
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Co-parenting for separated or divorced couples can be challenging any time of year, but the emotion and stress that surrounds the holidays can make this task even tougher. Figuring out how to share time, coordinate travel, collaborate (or not) on gifts, and manage kids’ expectations during the holidays is no easy task, but it is
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It’s hard to know what to say sometimes. When a loved one seems to be suffering due to grief, anxiety, depression, or a multitude of other possible reasons, it can be difficult to find the right words. Saying the wrong thing might make them feel worse, and if you say nothing at all it might
Read moreOne 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
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When my first child was born and we were being discharged from the hospital, I remember having this overwhelming sense of responsibility and a healthy dose of fear. I remember asking the nurses if they were sure we were ok to go and didn’t they need to check to make sure we at least installed
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We talk quite a bit about anxiety in our house. My kids have names for their worry monsters. My daughter chose the name Alfred when she was around 4 years old. My son, more recently, when he was about 4 years old, named his Pooter Fart. As you can imagine it brings a lot of
Read moreWith the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, I have noticed an increase in clients dealing with issues involving their extended family members. The pressure of entertaining and providing for the entire family may seem insurmountable when it comes time to actually enjoy time together. When clients tell me that they are feeling overwhelmed or stressed by
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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
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