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Inhale Pain, Exhale Joy: How Tonglen Helps Create Unity and Compassion
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” —Dalai Lama Tonglen is the Buddhist practice of giving and taking. More ... Read More
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7 Ways to Dismantle the Stigma Surrounding Polyamory
When I meet other professionals, I am usually quick to say that I work with the LGBTQ+ community. It takes a longer conversation, usually, for me to include that I serve kinky and nonmonogamous ... Read More
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Why We Stay in Relationships That Hurt
Kristen started our first therapy session by sharing her story: “Dave and I began having an affair three years ago. I know he loves me. Our chemistry is off the charts. He said his marriage ... Read More
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Coping with Criticism: How to Stop Being Defensive at Work
Have you ever felt defensive at work? Do you bristle when you receive unjust or unhelpful criticism? You aren’t alone. Defensiveness may come easily to us in the workplace. Even when ... Read More
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A Mindful Connection: Understanding the Triune Brain
Western culture seems to be increasingly fascinated with the human brain. Emerging evidence in the field of interpersonal neurobiology links physiological processes of the brain with mindfulness ... Read More
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After the Breakup: 5 Tips for Healing and Personal Growth
Breakups are often difficult, and most of us dread them. Navigating through a breakup can be challenging in a number of ways, especially when it is particularly long, drawn-out, or otherwise ... Read More
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What You Can Do to Raise Awareness of Child Abuse
My therapy practice is in Fairfax County, one of the wealthiest counties, with some of the best schools, in the nation. It is diverse and densely populated with well-educated residents ... Read More
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How to Create a Couples Communication Playbook Together
When working with couples, the first thing I assess is their communication, as this is usually a defining reason why they have walked into my office. Without clear boundaries and guidelines ... Read More
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Help! My Partner Is Terrible at Communicating
Dear GoodTherapy.org, We’ve been together about a year and a half, and from the beginning we established a mutual dedication to open communication and sharing as much with one another ... Read More
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How Real-Life Horrors in ‘Get Out’ Relate to Trust in Therapy
Spoiler alert: The following article contains plot details and other information from the movie Get Out. Like many Americans, I went to see the movie Get Out when it was released at the ... Read More
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Therapy’s Goal: Finding Pathology or Accepting Complexity?
Labeling pathology in another person is easy. One teacher of mine said it’s like “shooting fish in a barrel.” Think of any person you know and, unless you’ve totally idealized them, ... Read More
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Body Memories and ‘Grounding’ in Sexual Trauma Therapy
The idea of seeking therapy after experiencing a traumatic event can be daunting. For some people, it can be almost as frightening as the trauma itself. Whether the traumatic event (or ... Read More