Why is it an Issue to try to get my loved one into therapy? Over the years I have received many calls from people inquiring about therapy for an adult loved one, usually a partner or a child or parent. These inquiries seem well-intentioned, and…
Do You Know How to Validate Someone? Longing to be known and understood by others is a deep and profound human need. It is the foundation of closeness with others. Feeling connected to another human being is only made possible through Validation, which is the…
When I meet with Neurodivergent couples or partners for the first time, I am struck by the level of unhappiness that is being experienced by each partner. As I gather history, it becomes clear that both partners are intensely lonely, each in their own way. …
Do you wake up in the mornings feeling like you are facing down the dragon of despair? Do you often feel like you are going to be devoured by your anxiety, frustration, emotional outbursts, shifting moods, and urges to hide or run away? Many new…
Verbal communication in American culture tends to be abstract, metaphorical, satirical, sarcastic, and filled with double meanings. Society’s institutions such as the Media and Universities reward speech that is interesting and exciting. In high school, students are encouraged to write about facts but then draw…
As a parent of a beautiful adult with Autism and as a member of a neurodiverse family, I can attest that DBT skills and principles have dramatically shaped my life. I have been an intensively trained DBT provider for several years now. It is a…