Our Thoughts

There’s a certain rush that comes when you meet someone new. It’s the excitement, the butterflies, and the way your mind keeps circling back to them no matter what you’re doing. It can feel intoxicating, almost as if you’re tumbling headfirst into love after just a few months of knowing each other or even a handful of dates. But that feeling can also bring up questions, like “Am I really in love, or am I just caught up in the moment? How do I truly know the difference?”

Defensive reactions are a natural human response to feeling attacked, criticized, or misunderstood, even if those things are not the intention of the other person. But when they happen often, they tend to shut down more healthy communication and keep us from actually hearing and understanding each other.

There are ways, though, to stay connected, protect your emotional energy, and find a way to express yourself without shutting down. Let’s talk through some of those ways to better understand your partner’s feelings without losing yourself in the process.

How accurate are interpretations of abstract phenomena? Is there psychological, verifiable truth in finding symbols in indefinite shapes found in nature or art? How does the Roscharch Test reflect one’s inner reality?

Losing yourself could be a process that is done little by little throughout development in the face of rejection and feelings of inadequacy. It is perfectly innocent to feel like there were environments where your true self was not acceptable.

One of the most common questions I hear in therapy is: “How do I stop overthinking?” With countless decisions to make each day—what to wear, how to respond to a message, whether to switch careers—it’s easy to get caught in mental loops that feel impossible to escape.

Okay, we all know that watering our garden helps those plants to grow. But when we “water” our thoughts, they grow too. What I mean is, the thoughts we give attention to grow and the thoughts we disengage from shrink.

A common question that a lot of child therapists get is “well you just get to play games all day… how is that actually therapeutic?”. While we do love to play games like UNO, Monopoly, and Connect Four; we are actually utilizing evidence based therapeutic interventions while we do so!

Now that the weather is getting warmer and swimsuit season is here, many people may feel increased pressure to look a certain way. This pressure can lead to experiencing “negative body image”.

Rigid thinking creates a kind of mental tunnel vision that limits how we experience the world and respond to challenges. It’s not always obvious at first.

Many people feel ashamed for needing time alone, or for finding certain social settings exhausting, even if they care deeply about the people involved.However, it's important to keep in mind that everyone's social battery is a little different.

During the summer months there is usually an influx of teens and young adults trying to manage the heartache that often accompanies a break up. Did you know that statistically, breakups tend to occur more frequently during the summer months? So if you are currently in the thick of heartbreak, you are definitely not alone.

For many, summer is typically seen as a season of joy, filled with sunny skies, long days, vacations, and sometimes what can seem like endless social plans. The world seems to almost expect you to be outside, smiling, and carefree. But for some, summer can feel heavy, isolating, or even painful.

I will always stand behind the fact of books being a great resource for learning. There are lessons that kids can use with their imagination.

Everyone has needs and wants, and most of the time, your specific needs and wants may differ from your partner’s, your friend’s, and lots of other peoples. That is okay. It is not a bad thing to express what you want, but sometimes it can feel bad to ask for certain things or say that you are not getting everything that you need.

We often think of attachment styles as something that only affects romantic relationships, but in reality, your attachment style influences how you relate to and interact with everyone: your partner, friends, family, coworkers, strangers, even yourself. It’s the emotional blueprint that shapes how you connect, seek closeness, handle, conflict, and navigate boundaries.

When we’ve been hurt, disappointed, or overwhelmed by relationships, it’s natural to want to protect ourselves. Although, sometimes when we try to stop ourselves from getting hurt or feeling pain, we end up keeping a lot of things out, if not everything, which can include the support, connection, and intimacy we long for.

First of all, what’s “rapport” and why does it matter? The exact definition of rapport is: “a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate well”. In simpler terms, having a trusting and understanding relationship with others.

Welcome to part 2 of our summer activity series! In my last blog post, I discussed outdoor ideas to keep your child active, social, and screen free. But unfortunately, not every summer day is going to be sunny and warm. Indoor activities can still be fun and beneficial for your child. Below, you will find indoor activities to try with your child (while mostly limiting screen time).

Summer time is here! For many of you, that means summer camps, sports, and beach days. But what about the times when the kids are at home, routines are interrupted, and kids start to get bored?

There’s no neat timeline. No “correct” way to feel. No perfect words to say. Whether it's a five-year-old who just lost their pet, a teenager grappling with the death of a grandparent, or a parent struggling through the loss of a partner, grief shows up differently, unpredictably, and often loudly.

Has transitioning into summer felt more like a landslide than a gentle slide into vacation mode? Routines change, structure disappears overnight, and suddenly, you’re trying to figure out how to get your 7-year-old to brush their teeth again before noon.

Holding space and sitting with your emotions isn’t about fixing, avoiding, or judging them. It’s about making room for your internal experiences with honesty and care, and it’s the act of acknowledging your truth, even when it’s painful, uncertain, or messy.

People grieve differently, even when the loss is shared. Within families, this difference in how people process pain can sometimes create tension, misunderstandings, and emotional distance.