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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Many people are dealing with anxiety or depression and have for many years. It can be extremely helpful to explore what is underneath these powerful emotions to move through them and get to the other side.  People suffering from depression often are dealing with stuff from the past, while people overwhelmed with anxiety are worried […]

It’s a basic human need to want to feel significant, safe, important, understood and valued. We want to be and feel heard. It’s important to use this with your partner, children, friends, family and any other relationships in your life. First, let’s understand what validation means. It’s accepting someone’s feelings. It is to really understand […]

Do you communicate how you feel or what might be upsetting or bothering you? Or, do you keep it inside and stuff it until you blow up with anger, feel depressed or highly anxious? Are you the type of person that tries to let things roll off your back? Do you think to yourself, “Just […]

Do you equip or enable others? Do you tend to make excuses for the behavior or choices of others? Do you want to rescue or save others? Do you want to help people and end up feeling exhausted? Are you working harder than the other person? Do you do things for others or stuff your […]

Do you have any unhealthy relationships in your life? Do you feel powerless to set boundaries? Do these relationships suck the life out of you? It’s important to start taking a look at your relationships. As adults, we now get to determine how our relationships look.   Recognizing the signs of toxic relationships is vital.  Think […]