A common concern voiced by patients starting treatment is that thinking things through, instead of living by impulse, leads to a boring life. In other words, logic is joy subtraction rather than joy addition. Another way they may say it is “I lead with my heart instead of my brain.” How do you lead? I have to believe that if leading with emotion … [Read more...]
In the News: Quoted in Huffington Post article on December 21, 2017
I was quoted in the following article, New Year's resolution #4. If You Want A Better Relationship In 2018, Do This Goal-setting is better together. 💑 By Brittany Wong Geber86 via Getty Images It’s easy to get off track with your New Year’s resolutions when you’re the only one … [Read more...]
Warming Up! A Psychotherapist Reviews “Lady Bird”
Lady Bird What gets in the way of warming up emotionally, especially to another person? In the film “Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig’s November 2017 directorial debut, we see a mother and her teenage daughter driving back from touring colleges. They connect emotionally listening to an audio version of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, then launch into a … [Read more...]
In the News: Quoted in November 13, 2017 Huffington Post article
I was quoted in the following article, question #9. 16 Questions To Ask On A First Date, According To Marriage Therapists Do you make your bed in the morning? By Brittany Wong Martin Dimitrov 3.1k If you’re an introvert ― or just hate small talk ― few things are more … [Read more...]
Moving Past Terror!
Originally posted on December 3, 2015, but unfortunately relevant again, with the October 27, 2018, mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Did the terrorist attack on the Jewish population in Pittsburgh—and attempted mail bombs—raise your anxiety and make it hard for you to go about your daily life? Are you … [Read more...]
“It’s Never Too Late to Reclaim Your Life!”
“So, does everyone in the movie theater look like me?” I playfully asked the ticket taker. “Um, I’m not sure,” he said, answering carefully. On September 8, 2017, I saw “Year by the Sea,” a film (now available on Amazon and iTunes) about an older married couple, Joan and Robin. I had seen the film trailer the previous week and noticed the … [Read more...]
Guest Blog Post for Fifth Meridian Travel Blog
Fifth Meridian Travel featured a guest blog post I wrote entitled "Incompatible Travel Styles? 5 Tips from a Couples Therapist for a Great Trip!" on their blog on July 31, 2017. … [Read more...]
Dealing with Anger in Your Relationship: Yelling or Keeping Quiet?
“When one partner is really upset at the other, is it better to just outright express the anger, or to hold off? I’m trying to get better at expressing myself, and my friend’s trying to get better at not yelling. Which is better and how does one find a happy middle ground?” asked a friend. Dealing with anger in a relationship is a pretty common … [Read more...]
One Common Relationship Misconception
I was reminded about a common relationship misconception when I was walking to work and heard a man singing along to Paul Simon: “You don’t feel you could love me. But I feel you could.” Ah, a frequent through line in relationship problems! Paul Simon's got it wrong! How many relationship issues stem from a person thinking that he or … [Read more...]
Open Sesame! 3 Ways to Guarantee Your Partner Will Open Up!
You can probably guess that the "3 Ways to Guarantee Your Partner Will Open Up!" part of this title is written tongue in cheek! Communication in relationships doesn't come with guaranteed results. In December 2016, I was asked to contribute three tips to a “Huffington Post” relationship piece about getting one’s spouse to open up more. I’d like … [Read more...]