Do you ever feel like you wear a mask to cover how you really feel in order to fit in or be accepted? Do you put on a happy face even when you feel sad? Do you feel like you have to be a certain way in order for people to like you? These feelings […]

What are your triggers? Have you ever responded with anger by yelling or being short with someone and then feel terrible or guilty because you have no idea what just happened? If so, chances are you were triggered by something.  We all have stressors in our lives. What turns a stressor into a trigger is […]

The new year often brings a chance for new beginnings and an opportunity to focus on what really matters. We can set new intentions and create an action plan to make change in our life. It’s a chance to rethink old patterns and establish better ones. It’s a chance to really get clear on what […]

Do you give other people your power by letting them control how you feel about yourself? Do you try to please others so you will feel better about yourself? Do you try to keep the peace within your relationships by not rocking the boat so you end up walking on eggshells and losing a sense […]

Is there someone you need to forgive? Maybe you need to forgive yourself, a family member, friend, neighbor or even an abuser. Forgiveness does not mean you condone their choices or agree with their actions. It doesn’t mean you will forget what happened. Many people think if think forgive someone, it makes what they did […]

Fear is an emotion caused by anticipated danger. We all have fears. It is a natural part of human existence and a response to perceived physical and emotional danger.  Some fears can be helpful in that they alert us to danger. But often we fear situations that are in no way life-or-death, yet they somehow […]

What was it like growing up in your family? What did you learn about yourself and how to relate to others? How has it impacted the decisions you make today? What were some defining moments? In order to create understanding into who you are and why you make certain choices, it’s important to look at […]

How often do you feel criticized by your partner, children, co-worker, boss, friend or parent? Do you feel like you are never good enough no matter what you do? Do you feel like you will not live up to someone else’s expectations of you? Are you critical of yourself and others?  According to the Merriam-Webster […]

Do you feel unhappy in your marriage? Do you wish your partner would change? Have you found yourself wishing your partner would meet your needs? Do you wish your partner would grow up or wake up?  If you answered yes to any of these questions you are not alone.   It’s important to begin with a […]

How do you feel about confronting others or maybe confronting your own issues? Do you tend to run away from confrontation and avoid conflict? If you do tend to shy away from conflict, what is your fear about it? Or, do you hit it head on and move towards it? How does it impact your […]

Where does your worth and value come from? We live in a society that looks outside of ourselves to feel good about who we are. We compare ourselves to others and feel less than and not good enough. We learn quickly this is an empty space that cannot be filled. We will never feel enough […]

Have you ever felt like you were  going to have a breakdown or actually experienced one? How did you handle it? Did you learn from it? Often breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs. They can lead us down a path to better understanding ourselves and our emotions. At first, we can feel out-of-control and overwhelmed with […]

Relationships have become one of the most important factors towards defining ourselves and our happiness.   Often, people look for happiness from their partner. They may have this idea that the “perfect match” will somehow “complete” them. They are putting their worth in someone else. Even Hollywood has it that life ends “happily ever after” once […]

Do you feel out of balance with your life? Do you feel overwhelmed with trying to work, manage family life and volunteering? Do you feel like you are just going through the motions and not really living in the present moment because you are thinking about your to do list? You are not alone!  We […]

Facebook. What comes up for you when you hear this word? Do you feel excited, afraid, annoyed, irritated, thankful, unworthy, anxious, or a combination of emotions?   Facebook certainly continues to be a heated topic of conversation that brings much debate. There are many different feelings and thoughts about Facebook and its impact on our culture.  […]

The effects of being bullied can have a lifelong impact if they are not dealt with or worked through. Bullying can lead to lower self-worth, depression, anxiety and even suicide. When you have either experienced or had one of your children experiences being bullied, it really hits home. If we continue working together as a […]

by Lois Bushong, LMFT Almost daily, as I read my Twitter feed, I learn about another new report of sexual abuse or harassment by a person in a position of authority in a well-respected organization or system perpetrated on one or more of their adult employees or colleagues. It happens in for profit companies, non-profits […]

When you are sad, down or feel depressed, how do you handle it? Do you sit and dwell in it or simply feel like a victim of your circumstances? Do you cry and get it out? Do you do something for someone else? Or, perhaps, you do a little of everything.  One of the most […]

Fear is an emotion caused by anticipated danger. We all have fears. It is a natural part of human existence and a response to perceived physical and emotional danger.  Some fears can be helpful in that they alert us to danger. But often we fear situations that are in no way life-or-death, yet they somehow […]