The BPD Relationship Cycle
BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) is a relatively rare mental health disorder occurring in approximately 1.6% of the general population. BPD is often diagnosed in late adolescence or early adulthood, and women are primarily diagnosed with this disorder. Current studies indicate men may be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. BPD is characterized by a host of symptoms, ranging […]
Why Do Abusers Abuse?
Annually, there are more than 3 million reports of domestic violence occurring against both men and women. Considering many victims do not report their abuse, this number is likely lower than the actual rate of domestic violence. For this article, we will be addressing domestic violence within intimate partner relationships. Domestic violence between intimate partners […]
How to Unlock Repressed Memories on Your Own
The term repressed memory (also known as dissociative amnesia) refers to memories that are not stored in the conscious. The theory is that traumatic events can be so dysregulating that in order to cope, the person “forgets” or “improperly” stores the memory in an area of the brain that is difficult to access. The topic […]
Why Does My Son Hate Me
As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, who has worked with hundreds of children and families, relationship discord between parents and children is not unusual. Though you may feel as though your son hates you, it has been my experience, that children who act out hatefully, are actually hurting and want their parent to fix […]
Exposure Therapy – Uses, Techniques, Benefits, and More
The Psychiatric Times defines exposure therapy as “any treatment that encourages the systematic confrontation of feared stimuli, which can be external (feared objects, activities, situations) or internal (feared thoughts, physical sensations). The aim of exposure therapy is to reduce the person’s fearful reaction to the stimulus.” (Tolin, 2011) Used to treat anxiety-related disorders, exposure therapy […]
Coaching vs Therapy: Differences and Similarities
People seek out life coaching and therapy for similar reasons: to improve their lives. While coaching tends to have a specific focus, such as business, health, relationships, or goal-oriented strategies, therapy aims to improve overall mental health. One does not have to choose coaching over therapy. They can be done in conjunction or during different […]
Psychodynamic Therapy – Techniques, Examples, and Benefits
Psychodynamic therapy is based on theories and techniques related to some of the most famous psychologists of our time. Melanie Kline, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Anna Freud are all major contributors to this therapeutic theory and practice. The overarching goal is to bring the subconscious’s emotions, beliefs, fears, and desires to the conscious. Psychodynamic […]
Play Therapy: What is it, Types, Benefits, and Techniques
What is play therapy? Play therapy is essentially therapy conducted through the medium of play. Play therapy dates back to Sigmund Freud during the early twentieth century. Clinicians quickly realized the value of play and its therapeutic benefits for children while in the therapy room. They incorporated the use of board games, dolls, sand tray […]
Assertive Vs Aggressive
You may be wondering, what is the difference between being assertive and being aggressive. Is one style of communication better than the other? Does being aggressive result in better outcomes or will being assertive be more beneficial? In this article, we will discuss the differences between assertive communication and aggressive communication and provide examples of […]
How to “Find a Couples Therapy Near Me”?
Most of us enter an intimate relationship with hope, love, and excitement for the future. When things are going well within our relationship, it feels as though it is “us” against the world. When things become difficult, relationships can feel more lonely and isolating than if we were single. Since almost half of all […]