I have (reluctantly) been doing yard work. There is one section that is overgrown with ivy (English, not poison) and has been overgrown with for so long now that I am uncertain if there ever was a yard there. (I have a faint memory of a yard.) I have learned … Read More
Living In the Gray
Do you live your life in the gray? It seems to occur more with people than ever before. What used to be seen as right or wrong has now become questionable. Black and white areas of behavior are not necessarily the norm any longer. Viewpoints of life, quite often obtained … Read More
Past and Present Anger Patterns (3)
In previous blogs, there were examples the way families approach conflict. Exploring your family’s pattern of conflict resolution can be a great start in learning to recognize how you respond to conflict and express anger. Here are a few more questions that may be helpful to think through. What role … Read More
Past and Present Anger Patterns (2)
Patterns of anger often form outside of our awareness, we take in the unspoken rules of our family before we can comprehend that there may be other options in how we express our anger. Here are a few more patterns of dealing with anger that families often perpetuate. Families sometimes … Read More
Past and Present Anger Patterns (1)
Our families teach us many things; including how to handle conflict and express anger. Often there are unspoken rules for each family member. It can be helpful to look at the ways your family resolved (or did not resolve) differences. Here are a few questions to help you think about … Read More
Finding Peace
Can success bring peace? For some the answer would be yes. But one would have to define success, and that can be different for many. What about popularity? Certainly large numbers of people have found peace just from their well-known status. A nice home, great family, having things, all bring … Read More
Disagreeing Well
Handling disagreements isn’t always easy. As a therapist I help people find resolutions. Sometimes it’s easier than other times. As I work with couples, I explain that their backgrounds have a lot to do with how they handle conflict. We discuss how healthy outcomes can be difficult to achieve all … Read More
Making Amends
How hard should one try to make up after an argument or disagreement? Sometimes it depends on who is the other party. We want to feel as though we are correct in our opinions, but when someone else doesn’t share that same idea, feelings become hurt and separation from each … Read More
Stages of Grief
The death of Steve Jobs was a powerful reminder of the grieving process for me. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross first wrote about these stages in her best-selling book in 1969. Looking at photographs of Steve Jobs, the younger version founding a business out of a garage, and the older version, his health … Read More
Difficult People
Who are difficult people? They’re the ones who pour milk in your tea, just after you put in lemon. They’re those individuals who fail to say “good day” after you’ve said it to them five times. They’re people who leave the mess for you to clean up, even though you … Read More
