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Did You Know That Resentment Is Withholding Peace from Your Life?

December 10, 2020

Inner peace feels rare during stressful moments, yet it can grow when we address unresolved resentment. Lingering anger blocks emotional balance and affects how we show up in relationships. Many people struggle with this burden as it creates ongoing tension and disrupts daily life. How to let go of resentment becomes a crucial question when we want a calmer mind and steadier connections with others. Resentment acts like a reminder of old wounds. These memories replay as…

How Can My Partner and I Increase Intimacy in Our Relationship?

December 8, 2020

Danielle Bertini, LPC There are many different aspects in relationships that are important.  And one of those aspects is intimacy. Intimacy is the sense of another person fully knowing you and loving you because of who you are. This requires a large amount of honesty and vulnerability. Intimacy can be fostered both in and out of the bedroom. Kerry (2016) offers ten ways to increase intimacy in your relationship.    Disclose more to feel closer.   A…

How Can I Stop Intrusive Thoughts?

December 7, 2020

Danielle Bertini, LPC Intrusive thoughts are something that we all experience from time to time. You may be thinking, “What are intrusive thoughts anyway?” These are unwanted thoughts or images that pop into your head for no reason and can cause you to become somewhat obsessed or distressed. These thoughts can be no different from any other thought we might have. However, it is our attached to these thoughts that cause the real disturbance.  Again, intrusive thoughts…

How Can I Build Deeper Intimacy with My Partner?

November 19, 2020

Steven Losardo, AMFT This blog will highlight some ways for a couple to create intimacy. Additionally, the blog will review how a couple can intentionally create rituals to continue these. The practice gives the couple a meaningful way to connect and something that you can look forward to (Gottman, 2017). Finally,  rituals help the couple keep on track with the new behaviors and not revert to old patterns. The “royal road” to intimacy is emotional availability and…

Relationships: Is Our Conflict Healthy?

November 18, 2020

Hannah Hopper, LPC, NCC Having conflicts is a normal part of being in a relationship. Healthy conflict with your partner can lead to better communication and a stronger relationship as both parties are able to talk about what’s important to them. But having healthy conflict is difficult, and most of us engage in behaviors that can be damaging to our relationship. Below are some ways to learn more about the kind of conflict you’re engaging in.  Healthy…

6 Barriers to Healthy Communication

November 2, 2020

By Eric Dean JD MBA MA MA LPC CADC One of the most common and important issues in couples counseling is communication. Without healthy communication, other goals such as building trust, having more intimacy, and demonstrating mutual respect are difficult to attain. For this post, I am going to lay out 6 factors that interfere with our ability to communicate effectively with our partner. Remember, when communication gets better, other facets of the relationship are also likely…

The Essentials of Effective Communication in a Romantic Relationship

October 31, 2020

By Eric Dean JD MBA MA MA LPC CADC When I ask couples why they are seeking therapy, I often hear “We want to work on our communication.” In a previous post I laid out barriers to effective communication. In this post I list ways to communicate in a healthy way with your partner. Assertiveness Assertive communication is about respecting your partner’s boundaries and your own. It includes being open and honest with how you are feeling…

Are You Paying Attention to Your Inner Child?

October 24, 2020

By: Emily Brennan, MA, LAC, NCC As adults with busy schedules and a full slate of responsibilities, it is easy to forget about our inner child. The inner child is beneath our consciousness and holds unmet needs, suppressed emotions, traumas, and pain from our past. Our inner child also holds joy, creativity, curiosity, and the ability to play. When we become adults, we are told to grow up and forgo the inner child within us all. The…

Getting Over a Breakup

October 6, 2020

Kaitlin Broderick LCPC Relationship breakups are something that almost everyone experiences at one point or other during their life. They can leave us feeling devastated and confused. More often than not, our romantic relationships are the area in our lives where we have devoted the most time and energy into, and when this is suddenly taken away it can leave us feeling lost and uncertain. These are some common similarities that many people experience after a breakup…

The 90-Second Rule: Reacting to Hippopotamuses

September 11, 2020

By: Bridgette W. Gottwald, LPC, NCC According to Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a Harvard brain Scientist, there is a 90-second chemical process that happens within the brain and body in reaction to an external stimulus that feels dangerous or threatening. After this takes place, the person has a choice to make. Do I want to stay in this emotional loop or can I leave this behind? Any additional emotional response is the result of remaining within that loop. When…