Mental Health and Behavioral Health Blog

Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful Learning that your partner has been unfaithful can be one of the most devastating and upsetting moments possible. How to cope with such shocking news can be very difficult to comprehend. It is easy to lose the concept of who you are, and what you had, and can bring out fear in what your life will look like moving forward. A profound sense of loss is normal once the betrayal amongst partners is disclosed.

There is a profound difference between being spoken to and being heard. Many people move through life feeling invisible, dismissed, or silenced. They may be surrounded by family, friends, coworkers, or even partners, yet feel as though their thoughts, feelings, and experiences do not matter. The pain of not being heard often runs deeper than people realize. It is not simply about communication; it is about validation, dignity, and connection. As a psychotherapist, I have sat

There is a moment in every parent’s life when we realize that scraped knees and playground falls were the easy part. When our children were young, we could hold their hands crossing the street, choose who entered their world, and comfort them with a hug that somehow made everything better. But as children grow older, parenting changes in ways that can feel both beautiful and heartbreaking. The truth is, it becomes harder to protect them. As children enter adolescence and youn

Divorce is rarely easy, even when the children involved are adults. Many parents assume that because their children are grown, they are emotionally equipped to handle the pain, tension, and shifting loyalties that often come with separation. But adult children are not immune to the emotional fallout of divorce. In fact, many find themselves pulled directly into their parents’ unresolved conflict — becoming confidants, messengers, mediators, or even emotional caretakers. Famil

There are two types of anxiety, acute and chronic. Acute anxiety occurs on a daily basis. Examples are the reactions we get to stressors such as being late for a meeting, a child waking up with a cold/illness, sitting in traffic, missing a train/bus, etc. Chronic anxiety is more of a background of anxiety that we carry with us. Much of this type of anxiety is programmed into us during our years in our family of origin, a level of anxiety that was/is usual for the family. We c

Some stories are written from imagination. Others are written from real life, love, and the moments that leave a lasting imprint on our hearts. Jayce Never Gives Up was inspired by my granddaughter Jayce and the determination she showed while learning to overcome challenges at such a young age. I watched her attempt the monkey bars again and again. There were moments of frustration, tears, hesitation, and doubt — but there was also courage. No matter how difficult it felt, sh

We often use the word love to describe intense feelings—thinking about someone constantly, wanting to be near them, feeling deeply affected by their presence or absence. But not all intensity is love. Sometimes, what we’re experiencing is something else entirely: obsession. So how do we tell the difference? Love is rooted in connection. Obsession is rooted in control. Healthy love allows space. It respects individuality, boundaries, and autonomy. When you love someone, you wa

Parent–child relationships are often seen as the most enduring bonds in our lives—rooted in love, history, and shared identity. So when that connection fractures or disappears altogether, it can feel both confusing and deeply painful. Parent–child estrangement is more common than many realize, yet it remains one of the least openly discussed family experiences. Estrangement rarely happens overnight. It is typically the result of patterns that build over time — unresolved conf