Mental Health and Behavioral Health Blog

By Maria Sikoutris Di Iorio, MA, EdS, MFT, LPC Have you ever kept your feelings to yourself because you didn't want to upset someone or start an argument? Perhaps you convinced yourself that it was easier to stay quiet than to speak up. While silence may keep peace in the moment, what does it cost us over time? Having your voice heard is more than speaking. It is about feeling that your thoughts, feelings, and needs matter. When we are repeatedly dismissed or ignored, we may

By Maria Sikoutris Di Iorio, MA, EdS, MFT, LPC When one partner wants sex and the other rarely or never does, it can become one of the most painful and difficult issues in a relationship. The partner seeking intimacy may feel rejected, undesirable, or wonder whether their partner is still attracted to them. Over time, what begins as a difference in sexual desire can become a source of resentment, insecurity, and emotional distance. But a lack of sexual desire does not automat

By Maria Sikoutris Di Iorio, MA, EdS, MFT, LPC You’ve never met in person. You’ve never kissed. You’ve never touched. But you check your phone hoping they’ve written, you think about them throughout the day, and you may be telling them things you no longer tell your partner. So, is it cheating? There isn’t one answer. Every couple has different boundaries, and what feels innocent to one couple may feel like a betrayal to another. But an online relationship can become emotiona

By Maria Sikoutris Di Iorio, MA, EdS, MFT, LPC It often starts innocently. A toddler wakes in the middle of the night, calls for Mom or Dad, and before long, that little body is tucked into the middle of the parents’ bed. Everyone goes back to sleep, so what could be wrong with it? For some families, nothing. Different families have different beliefs, cultures and sleeping arrangements. The more important question is whether the arrangement is working for everyone. Toddlers n

By Maria Sikoutris Di Iorio, MA, EdS, MFT, LPC Every couple has disagreements. Sometimes emotions run high, and one or both partners need time to cool down before continuing the conversation. Taking space can be healthy. The problem begins when space turns into silence with no intention of returning to the conversation. There is an important difference between saying, “I’m too upset to talk right now. I need some time, but I want to come back to this tonight,” and simply refu

By Maria Sikoutris Di Iorio, MA, EdS, MFT, LPC In many relationships, one partner earns significantly more money than the other. While this arrangement can work well, differences in income can sometimes create tension, resentment, or feelings of inequality. The partner earning more may begin to feel burdened by carrying a greater financial responsibility. The partner earning less may feel guilty, dependent, or as though their contributions to the relationship are less valuabl

By Maria Sikoutris-DiIorio, MA, EdS, MFT, LPC Clinical Director, Hellenic Therapy Center Every September, we remember where we were when the planes hit the towers, when the buildings fell, and when our world changed forever. We remember the photographs. We remember the names. We remember the families standing behind barricades, holding pictures of the people they were desperately hoping to find. And we remember the first responders. On September 11, 2001, firefighters, police

There is a point in some relationships when a couple looks around and realizes something has changed. They still live together, take care of the children, pay the bills and manage the daily responsibilities of life. From the outside, everything may look fine. But something feels missing. They have become roommates. The conversations are mostly about schedules, groceries, appointments, work, children and what needs to get done. They may sit next to each other at night, each on