“Have you seen these?” my client asked me. “Are they legit?” One of many men I work with who are in the midst of a troubled relationship, he had been seeing a lot of video ads on his social media feed for marriage-saving coaches, programs, and...
My college education, like many people’s, started on an entirely different path. I’ve always loved stories, and began as a student of writing with a focus on theater and film. In the short years I spent focusing on this, I learned a lot about what makes a...
Helping clients explore and retell their stories involves walking through some painful things sometimes. Fleshing out the roles others have played in our lives–and the stories we told ourselves about that–makes us aware of how we have impacted...
There are a lot of different responses you get when you tell people you’re a professional counselor. While there’s an overall shift toward more positive attitudes about mental health care, people’s comments and questions reveal a lot about how...
A lot of men get this request – “I wish you’d be more vulnerable with me.” What does that mean? What are we being asked to do? And why is it so difficult to do? Here are a few of my thoughts on what vulnerability is really about.
One of the most common factors I encounter in the counseling work I do with men is an unnamed struggle with loneliness. While it is normal to have moments, seasons, or events that feel lonely, there’s a point at which loneliness becomes something more–a...
They’re often the catalyst that finally brings someone to a counseling office: those gut-wrenching moments in relationships that feel like you’re speeding into traffic, slamming your foot on the brake even though you know it’s too late. Now...
In the dance of relationships, a big part of what influences our experience lies unseen—a silent orchestrator behind the scenes. Amidst the complexity of thoughts, emotions, and narratives lies the autonomic nervous system (ANS), a vital regulator of our body’s...
I don’t know how I stayed in Florida for nine years. For someone who loves nature and being outside, I somehow tolerated living in a region where I found the outdoors almost uniformly uncomfortable. It’s hot and muggy just about year round, with a couple...
There is so much to be said about the tragic events that are too common in the news lately, but right now I want to talk about one topic that is consistently central to the story: bullying. And there’s also a lot to say on this topic, but let’s focus on...
