As kids, we don’t have the capacity to meet our own emotional needs or think in abstract terms. So how do we go about letting go of these old beliefs and rebuilding our sense of self worth? 

As a therapist, I’m really glad our culture is coming around to the idea that we could all use some mental health support from time to time. If you’re thinking about starting therapy, here are 6 tips to help you make the most of it.

The more time I took for my practice, the easier it was for me to be the person I wanted to be in the world: loving, productive, present.

Have you ever felt rejected? Of course you have. We all have, and it’s not fun. So what can we do to make rejection sting less?

I realized friendships aren’t always forever. People change. Priorities shift. Over time, some friendships just run their course. Sometimes it happens gradually, without a conscious decision or a big conflict to end things. Some people just naturally drift apart, and it’s completely fine for both sides.

The more I practiced self-love, the more I could see what a difference it made in how I felt and how other people responded to me. In fact, the practice was/is so powerful that I continue to use it today.

Here are some tips for how to support someone who really needs help right now—and hold on to yourself in the process.

It can be really hard to find a therapist who’s the right fit (trust me, I’ve been there!), but let me assure you: making the decision to reach out for help is a tremendous achievement in itself. If you’ve come this far, you’re already halfway there.

As someone who used to feel anxious and awkward in just about every social situation, here’s what I did to get myself out of isolation and start making new connections with people!

A “fake it till you make it” attitude won’t get you real gratitude – but self-love will.

The holidays. For some, it’s a season to be jolly. For many of us, it’s the most stressful time of the year. A time when emotions and expectations reach a fever pitch, when the potential for emotional conflict hits its peak. Why do the holidays tend to be so stressful? And what can we do to move through this time of year with more calm and compassion – both for ourselves and the people around us?

Though the results aren’t usually instantaneous or obvious, the effects of sitting with your emotions tend to show up in powerful ways.

It might be easier for some of us to admit than others, but here’s a truth: we all have imperfect parents/caregivers. And another truth: our imperfect parents/caregivers were raised by imperfect parents/caregivers.

Ultimately, letting go of my exit strategy allowed me to re-enter my life and figure out what I needed to do to create the kind of future I wanted. 

Though we tend to think of anxiety as a negative emotion, it isn’t always the bad guy. Sometimes anxiety emerges as a signal that we need to make a change in our lives.

“If you knew right now that in a year you were going to meet the person of your dreams, would you still be in pain at this moment?” The answer was “no.” Be patient.

Whether we know it or not, we’re taking in other people’s feelings all the time. As human beings, we’re constantly connecting with one another on an emotional level.