What is healthy masculinity? As with all aspects of gender, masculinity is a socially constructed series of roles, norms, expectations, and characteristics that can help shape someone’s identity. Masculinity has a context that changes across time and place; this means the ‘definition’ of masculinity isn’t static. There tend to be some consistent themes of masculinity […] Read more “Healthy Masculinity”
Healthy Masculinity
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Estimated: 7 minutes to read
And just like that, everything’s changed.
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FeaturedEstimated: 7 minutes to read
Last Tuesday, I emailed attendees who were signed up for my workshop at the end of the month, letting them know we intended to hold it. Twelve hours later, we cancelled it. We’re in a strange new reality. For most of us, it’s like nothing we’ve experienced in our lifetime. For others, this is not […] Read more “And just like that, everything’s changed.”
When to Hold ‘Em and When to Fold ‘Em
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Estimated: 5 minutes to read
As the year comes to a close, I take a bit of time to reflect on the year that was, and the year to come. It’s one of my favorite parts of the year, because it’s the time when we get to think long and hard about things (long dark nights help) — about things we’re […] Read more “When to Hold ‘Em and When to Fold ‘Em”
Loving and Gentle Communication in Relationships
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Estimated: 5 minutes to read
Even when I thought I was loving in communicating in my closest relationships, I had often been challenged and told by my partners that I was not! I had learned all the “tricks and words” through my study of psychology and communication, but I was somehow still getting into hurtful arguments and repeated conflicts. It […] Read more “Loving and Gentle Communication in Relationships”
Is Your Partner Guessing?
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
Have you ever noticed that rather than communicate directly, you make your partner guess about what you want? Certain conversations can be difficult to begin. Strong emotions can keep us from getting started. Fear of conflict escalating may hold us back. Unspoken signals can confuse us and make it less safe to proceed. Not trusting […] Read more “Is Your Partner Guessing?”
Relationship Reset
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Estimated: 4 minutes to read
This article is a guest post from Candice Wu, LCPC. She is an intuitive coach and holistic healing facilitator who helps people through the power of love, self-forgiveness, empowerment and body wisdom. Have you ever felt like you wanted to just reset or reboot the relationship? The Outdated Default Relationship Dynamic Recently, I noticed […] Read more “Relationship Reset”
Infidelity as a Growth Opportunity
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
Santiago Delboy is a colleague and friend to LifeWorks who brings insight and thoughtfulness to his work, writing and collaboration. We are pleased to share some of his thougths about infidelity. This post appears in Santiago’s blog, which can be found here. This afternoon, I watched a TED talk by therapist and author Esther Perel about infidelity. I read her book Mating […] Read more “Infidelity as a Growth Opportunity”
Sailing Into Therapeutic Parenting
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Estimated: 10 minutes to read
This article is a guest post from parenting expert Billy Kaplan, LCSW. He is the President and Clinical Director at House Calls Counseling, which develops and promotes healthy family relationships by encouraging the emotional, behavioral and mental health of children, teenagers, adults, couples and families. This post on therapeutic parenting first appeared here. I learned to […] Read more “Sailing Into Therapeutic Parenting”
When Relationships Fall Apart
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
This article was written by Lisa Blair, M.A. and David Bedrick, J.D., who are both Certified Process Work Diplomats. It first appeared here and is reposted with permission. Every relationship has two handshakes: one above the table and one below. The first handshake is a conscious agreement between the two people, saying “We’re going to support each […] Read more “When Relationships Fall Apart”
Queer, Polyam, Kinky, Single? Alternative Valentine’s Day Ideas
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Estimated: 3 minutes to read
Navigating Valentine’s Day can be tricky, especially if you’re single, or if your relationship falls outside the margins of heteronormative monogamy. As the 14th approaches, you might feel like you can’t escape ads selling jewelry by reinforcing the gender binary or promotions trying to push pricey dinner dates for two. But, even as you feel […] Read more “Queer, Polyam, Kinky, Single? Alternative Valentine’s Day Ideas”
Low Libido Blues: Desire Discrepancy in Intimate Relationship
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
Michelle Herzog is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist based out of Chicago. She is the owner of the Center for Mindful Living, a private practice specializing in relationship and sex therapy. We are delighted to share her post on desire discrepancy and communication. One of the most common sexual issues couples […] Read more “Low Libido Blues: Desire Discrepancy in Intimate Relationship”
Polyphobia: Anti-Polyamorous Prejudice and Discrimination
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
Eli Sheff is considered a leading expert when it comes to polyamory and stigma. Eli is the CEO and Director of Legal Services at the Sheff Consulting Group, a think-tank of experts specializing in diverse subcultures and under-served populations. The following is an article she wrote for Psychology Today about polyphobia and discrimination. Prejudice is making judgements about […] Read more “Polyphobia: Anti-Polyamorous Prejudice and Discrimination”
Navigating the Relationship Journey
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Estimated: 4 minutes to read
Santiago Delboy is a colleague and friend to LifeWorks who brings insight and thoughtfulness to his work and collaboration. We are pleased to share some of his writing. This post appears in Santiago Delboy’s blog, which can be found here. Just to state the obvious, relationships are not easy. While we are “wired” to be in relationships and they […] Read more “Navigating the Relationship Journey”
A Gratitude Experiment
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Estimated: 2 minutes to read
“Thank you.” Two words most of us say countless times each day. Saying ‘thank you’ recently came up in a client session and we started processing what that phrase means. Are we saying the words when we are expressing gratitude or just out of habit? I remember my mother (as many parents do) training me […] Read more “A Gratitude Experiment”
Pull the Next One Up
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Estimated: 2 minutes to read
by Marc Kelly Smith When you get to the top of the mountain Pull the next one up. Then there’ll be two of you Roped together at the waist Tired and proud, knowing the mountain, Knowing the human force it took To bring both of you there. And when the second one has finished Taking […] Read more “Pull the Next One Up”
Healing from Affairs — Cheating is not Polyamory
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
Affairs can surface in a long-term relationship. Can healing occur when the affairs have been covert, repeated and ongoing? Several years ago a couple, Peter and Sherri (not their real names), a married, het/cisgender couple, came to see me. They had been married for approximately 25 years. As are my usual questions when I first […] Read more “Healing from Affairs — Cheating is not Polyamory”
Cultural Competence and Bias
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Estimated: 2 minutes to read
As therapists, we recognize our ethical obligations to know and acknowledge the limits of our training and skills. We know that our expertise grows over time with experience and supervision, training, reading, dialogue and further training. These activities contribute to our mastery of specialized areas, methods or skills. But what about cultural competence? How do […] Read more “Cultural Competence and Bias”
In the Shadow of Disney World
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
ORLANDO SHOOTING JUNE 11, 2016 When I think Orlando, I think of sun filled days, blue skies, parents and grandparents offering up days of fun and excitement, showering their children with the time of their lives at Disney World. But from yesterday on, I will think of Orlando in a different way. I will think […] Read more “In the Shadow of Disney World”
Building Trust
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Estimated: 3 minutes to read
Julie Diamond, Ph.D. is a colleague and former therapist, who has turned her attention to the issues facing organizations. In the blog below she talks about a human dilemma that is not limited to work life – trust. As you read it, consider where in your life trust is missing and what you might do […] Read more “Building Trust”
Communication Challenges: Yes, That Again!!
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Have you ever fallen into the pit of communication challenges? Or should I say miscommunication challenges? What an interesting phenomena it can be, if and when you have the detachment to notice you are in the pit and are able to name it as interesting! More often it is experienced as a quagmire, an endless […] Read more “Communication Challenges: Yes, That Again!!”