For generations, men have been taught to be strong, steady, and self reliant. To man up. To keep emotions private and push through pain. Over time, that message often turns into silent suffering, and can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors or painful emotional experiences. Even with growing awareness around the benefits of mental health support, […]
Change is one of the few constants in life. Completing high school or levels of college, career shifts, moving to a new city, starting or ending a relationship, becoming a parent; these are just a few examples, but all of these transitions carry both opportunity and uncertainty. Even when change is positive, it can shake […]
Growing up too fast can mean taking on responsibilities and emotional awareness before you were ready. As an adult, this may show up as over-responsibility, perfectionism, or disconnection from your needs. Healing is possible. You can reconnect with the parts of you that carried these burdens and find compassion, balance, and safety. The Hidden Impacts […]
The New Year: Reflections on Growth, Gratitude, and Renewal Each New Year, I like to pause and reflect—especially on the interview I did back in 2023 about New Year’s resolutions. Revisiting the chapters of my life has shown me that most things, even the difficult ones, carried purpose. I’ve gained self-esteem that had far less […]
When I suggest that a client may be sensitive, or even highly sensitive, they wince when their sensitivity is mentioned. As if I called them an asshole or some other unsavory name. Shame washes over them, as if I have suddenly discovered the secret they’ve been hiding from the world. When did it become taboo […]
I have talked about how I think self-care is a myth. How we have been conditioned (especially as helpers and empaths) to give all of our good away and then use self-care to fill ourselves back up. I have developed my thesis: self-care is a way of life, not the pampering activities or self-soothing techniques […]
Imagine you are you working out with a new trainer at the gym. You don’t know one another well yet, and the trainer is still trying to get to know what your body can and can’t do. She tells you to get down onto all fours for some bird dogs. Now, you know that your […]
In recent times, the concept of attending to one’s inner child to heal oneself has been gaining popularity in psychotherapy. Therapeutic approaches such as the Internal Family System (IFS) and Parts Work, as well as various books and worksheets, have emphasized the importance of understanding one’s fragmented self and piecing it together like […]
Being Nice Psychological Underpinnings: External Motivation: Being “nice” is often driven by the desire for social approval, acceptance, or avoidance of conflict. It may stem from a need to be liked or to avoid rejection or disapproval. Niceness can be an outward behavior aimed at managing others’ perceptions of oneself. People-Pleasing: “Niceness” is often linked […]
By: Rachel Cooper, MS, LPC-Associate Supervised by Amber Quaranta Leech, PHD, LPC-S Amority Health – Blog – Shifting Perceptions The holidays can feel overwhelming, even for those used to managing everything with precision. If you’re a high-achieving adult, it’s easy to get caught in the cycle of “I have to do it all” […]
