Failure, Forgiveness, and Emotional Inheritance in Fatherhood
I have been a father for 40 years, a grandfather for 16 years, and a family psychologist in clinical practice for more than four decades. Throughout these years, I have carefully investigated fatherhood, and conscientiously invested in it, from both a personal and professional vantage point. For thousands of clinical hours, and countless personal, family […]
Why Your Emotional Bond With Nature Is Good for You
When life feels overwhelming, many people instinctively turn to nature. A walk in a park. Sitting by the ocean. Watching a sunset. Is this just a pleasant feeling, or is there something deeper at work? A multitude of studies have linked spending time in nature with different aspects of Mental health and wellness. For example, […]
Too Needy in Relationships | The Gottman Institute
Have you ever been told, “You’re too needy”? It usually doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s you trying to talk about something that felt off and hearing, “Why are you making this such a big deal?” And suddenly, you’re not talking about the issue anymore. You’re wondering if you’re the problem. Being told you’re “too […]
Stolen Childhoods: Divorce and Emotional Parentification
So often, when we as family law attorneys caution newly separated or divorced parents to keep their children “out of it,” clients interpret this as a warning not to argue in front of their children. Or not to bring their kids into arguments for support in a he said, she said-type of discussion. They are […]
Therapy for Dating Can Help You Avoid an Emotional Breakdown
Dating in the 21st century is hard. Singles are both overwhelmed and underwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the number of apps and an infinite sea of prospective partners/dating app users. Underwhelmed by the quality of their matches, interactions, and dating experiences. Many of my clients have expressed discontent with the current dating environment and culture. Common words […]
10 Keys to Emotional Sanity and Integrity
Our self-esteem and lovability increase as we become psychologically healthy. These specific practices build our integrity and effectiveness. 1. Maintain a Radical Loyalty to Reality As healthy adults, we see and accept the givens of life. We accept the limitations in ourselves and others. We appreciate our own and others’ gifts. Our adult aspiration is […]
75 Insightful Questions to Deepen Emotional Intimacy
You’ve been together for a while now, and things feel… good. Really good, actually. But lately, you’ve been wondering: Is this the person I want to build a life with? How do I know if we’re truly compatible on the deeper levels that matter? If you’re finding yourself having these thoughts, you’re in one of […]
Emotional Regulation and ADHD | Psychology Today
This month’s executive function skill of focus is emotion regulation. As a reminder, executive function skills are brain-based skills that help individuals get things done. For many neurodivergent individuals, some executive function skills are great strengths while others are more challenging. Emotion regulation is a complex executive function skill that plays a key role in […]
Skill-Based Apps for Developing Emotional Awareness
I sometimes work with individuals who can’t put words to their feelings or can’t understand the emotional responses of others. It’s not that they don’t want to—it’s more that they don’t know how. The clinical term for this experience is alexithymia, which is defined as the inability to recognize emotions and their subtleties. The word […]
Is Emotional Outsourcing the Future of Our Relationships?
Imagine having a funny yet inspiring late-night conversation with someone who just gets you. They ask thoughtful questions, remember details about your day, and send you a message to wish you good night and a virtual hug that makes you feel warm, fuzzy, and appreciated. Let’s zoom back and consider that this special someone is […]