Self-Aware and Still Stuck: Now what? Hey, I see you. You’re the one who knows your patterns like the back of your hand. You’ve got the psychological playbook on yourself memorized: why you shut down in conflict, why you overfunction in relationships, why you just can’t seem to say no. You’ve read the books. Done […]
Summer flies by in what feels like the blink of an eye. One minute you’re enjoying long, carefree days, and the next you’re shopping for bookbags, crayons, and classroom supplies. For many children, returning to school is an exciting milestone: new teachers, reconnecting with friends, fresh opportunities to learn, and fun experiences like field trips. […]
The Exhaustion of Trying to Move Forward If you’re reading this, you’re likely exhausted. Maybe you’re the partner who was betrayed, and you’re exhausted from the constant vigilance, the intrusive thoughts, or replaying every detail of your partner’s affair. Or perhaps you’re the partner who strayed, and you’re exhausted from the guilt, the endless questions, […]
In preparing for a first date, you may be running through a variety of questions and imagined scenarios in your mind. “What if we don’t have anything in common?” “What if they don’t like dogs?” “What if I’m about to meet my future spouse?” However, if you are someone living with food allergies, these questions […]
When Your Child’s Reaction Triggers Your Own As someone who lives with food allergies myself, I know the undercurrent of hypervigilance that weaves its way into daily life with food allergies. The constant label-checking, the calculated choices, the hyperawareness in social settings. Living with food allergies means living with a quiet, persistent hum of caution. […]
As a therapist who specializes in equestrian mental health, I frequently work with couples navigating the emotional aftermath of a horse riding injury. These injuries can leave not only the rider physically and emotionally shaken but also their spouse or partner feeling overwhelmed, afraid, and, at times, resentful. If your partner has been injured while […]
When you open social media, you are likely expecting to catch up with your friends and family. Maybe you’re looking for a distraction or searching for a laugh in the form of funny animal videos. But lately, instead of dogs doing silly tricks or wholesome posts from your loved ones, more tragic news and video […]
Finding Support Through Life’s Changes with a NJ Licensed Counselor “Don’t ever change.” How many of us, if we flipped through our high school yearbooks, would find someone wrote this to us? The irony isn’t lost on me—could you imagine NOT changing from your high school self? I once had a former student approach me […]
Insight From a NJ Teen Therapist As a parent of a teen athlete, you know how much their sport means to them. It’s more than a physical activity—it’s a source of identity, social connection, confidence, and purpose. So when an injury happens, it doesn’t just affect their body. It can deeply impact their emotional wellbeing, […]
It’s no secret that uncomfortable situations in a family are difficult, or even impossible, to unpack . Some families choose not to discuss the uncomfortable or difficult things they have experienced. On the other hand, some families choose to work with a professional, like a family therapist, to improve family dynamics and ease conflict. This […]
Have you, or someone close to you, dealt with racist encounters, discrimination, or microaggressions? Do you find yourself dwelling on these experiences? Are you constantly living in fear, feeling down, or even struggling with low self-esteem? These could be signs that you, or someone you know, is experiencing racial stress, or recently been through a […]
Being the parent of an anxious child can at times be a consistent struggle. If you are a parent who has experienced intense anxiety, you may understand that out-of-control feeling. If anxiety has never been an issue for you, you may find your child’s anxious behaviors baffling. Anxiety can gnaw at you. It makes it […]
As summer winds down and the school year approaches, many middle schoolers and their parents begin to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. This transitional period can be particularly challenging for middle school students, who are navigating new social dynamics, increased academic expectations, and the changes that come with early adolescence. Understanding Back-to-School […]
As the days of summer wind down and the thought of returning to school looms, it’s common for high school students to experience a whirlwind of emotions. While the thought of reuniting with friends can be exciting, it’s also normal to feel a bit of anxiety about the unknown. Whether you’re facing a new school, […]
As the summer winds down, many children feel anxious about going back to school. Whether it’s a new grade, a different school, or just the shift from the freedom of summer, back-to-school anxiety is common. This can be particularly hard for kids who tend to experience high levels of anxiety. As a parent, it can […]