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Help! My Sibling Is Emotionally Overwhelming: How to Set Boundaries Without Cutting Them Off
Sibling relationships are lifelong in a way that can make them uniquely complicated. Maybe your sibling leans on you constantly for emotional support, calls or texts multiple times a day, or shares their distress in ways that leave you feeling drained, anxious, or even resentful. You love them, but you find yourself thinking: I can’t be their therapist… I’m exhausted.
Holiday Burnout: Tips for Prevention and Response from a Burnout Recovery Therapist
For many people, the holidays aren't the most wonderful time of the year, they're the most exhausting. Between family obligations, packed calendars, travel, and end-of-year work pressure, it’s no surprise that so many people hit a breaking point by December. If you're already feeling stretched thin, or want to avoid getting there, this guide is for you.
What No One Tells You About Being a Family Cycle Breaker
If you're the one in your family who’s decided this stops with me, congrats! Choosing to break painful intergenerational patterns like emotional neglect, codependency, abuse, enmeshment, or chronic avoidance is a brave and life-changing decision. But what no one often tells you is that it’s not just hard, it’s complicated, lonely, and sometimes even painful. As therapists who work with adult children of dysfunctional families, here’s what we want you to know.
Want to Feel Close Again? Try This To Strengthen Your Relationship
When couples say they feel disconnected, they often think the answer is more date nights or intense conversations. While those things are helpful, one often-overlooked way to rebuild emotional intimacy is much simpler: do something together that matters to both of you.
The Myth of Being “Completed” By Our Partners Is Making Us Unhappier In Relationships
We've all seen the romantic movies where the hero/ine finds their perfect partner, and suddenly, their life is "complete." This idea that a partner can "complete" us sounds appealing. But in real life, it leads to unhealthy relationship dynamics, unmet expectations, and codependency
How to Build And Update Your Love Maps: 10 Questions to Strengthen Your Relationship
A Love Map is your mental and emotional blueprint of your partner’s inner world. It includes everything from their favorite foods to their biggest life goals, current stressors, fears, and childhood memories. The stronger your Love Maps, the better equipped you are to handle conflict, support each other through life’s ups and downs, and stay connected for the long haul.
What to Do If You’re Smothering Your Partner: A Guide to Self-Soothing
So your partner just told you you’re smothering them. Ouch! That stings. If you’re wondering where to go from here, we’ve got a plan.
Does My Fiancé Asking for a Prenup Mean They're Planning to Divorce Me?
If your fiancé just brought up getting a prenup and your stomach dropped a little, you’re not alone. It's easy to associate prenups with worst-case scenarios or imagine it as someone saying, “I don’t trust this to last.” But in reality, a prenup isn’t about preparing to leave—it’s about planning to stay. And more importantly, it’s about protecting both of you.
A Couples Therapist Reacts to Love Is Blind
What reality TV can teach us about real relationships – from a Los Angeles couples therapist.
8 Questions That Show Your Partner You’re Truly Listening
Have you ever been in the middle of a deep discussion and found yourself at a loss for what to say? Here are 8 loving questions you can ask to keep the conversation going and deepen your connection to your partner when they’re stressed, hurt, upset, or grieving.
What To Do If Your Partner Acts Differently Toward You Around Family or Work Colleagues
Noticing your partner behaving differently around family or colleagues can feel confusing or even hurtful. They might seem more distant, overly agreeable, or act in a way that feels out of character compared to how they are in private. While this shift can be unsettling, it doesn’t always mean something is wrong in your relationship. Understanding the underlying reasons and addressing them with care is key.
This One Phrase Can Help You De-Escalate Conflict Immediately
There’s one simple phrase that can shift the tone of a heated conversation, calm tensions, and foster collaboration. Our therapists recommend it as a great way to diffuse a heated situation.
Why is Moving So Stressful for Couples?
Moving stirs up all of our most sensitive inner issues: money, security, connection, community, and meaning. Understanding why moving is so challenging for couples can help you navigate this stressful time with patience and teamwork.
How to Keep a Friendship from Draining You
Having solid friendships is one of the most significant predictors of health. But sometimes, they can become one-sided or draining. This imbalance can leave you feeling exhausted, and over time, it can affect your well-being. Here's how to recognize, contain, and reclaim your energy from draining friendships.
Is It a Bad Idea to Schedule Sex with My Partner?
Scheduling intimacy isn't a bad idea—it’s actually one of the best ways to prioritize your relationship. Protected time for closeness ensures you’re making time for the person who matters most to you. Here's what our couples therapists have to say about scheduling sex and intimacy.
Is It Okay to Give My Therapist A Holiday Gift?
When it comes to giving a holiday gift to your therapist, there are some important considerations. Here's what you should know.
When and How to Take a Break During a Heated Discussion
We’ve all been in a heated discussion that spirals out of control, leaving both parties feeling frustrated and misunderstood. Knowing when to take a break can be the key to maintaining healthy communication. Sometimes, taking a break allows for a more productive conversation later. But how do we know when to take a break? And how do we regulate ourselves so we can come back with a cool, clear head?
How to Pace Yourself in Dating: Building Healthy Connections with Attachment Style Awareness
So you both swiped right and you've got those furious butterflies in your stomach. You can't believe you finally met someone you really click with! But how do you proceed without getting way ahead of yourself and getting hurt? How can you prevent codependence? How do you lean into the excitement without scaring them off?
When is it Okay to Trauma Dump? A Trauma Therapist Explains…
Let's explore the dangers of trauma dumping in certain situations and how to handle these awkward conversations. We'll also talk about how sharing is different in trauma therapy and how to approach telling your story.
What Does Healthy Conflict Look Like in Relationships?
Healthy conflict is important for a satisfying relationship, while avoidance can lead to distance, resentment, and dissatisfaction. Understanding how to make conflict productive helps build a strong and satisfying partnership.
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Our Holistic Therapy Services In California & Florida
We offer individualized teletherapy for a wide range of mental health and relational issues. Our San Francisco & Los Angeles therapists can help with anxiety, trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, LGBT gay and lesbian therapy issues, holistic therapy, enneagram therapy, therapy for lawyers, couples therapy, therapy for burnout, and therapy for teenagers. We serve many people in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles, as well as throughout California and Florida. Our team is anti-racist, body positive, LGBT and trans affirming and sex positive. You deserve to feel good!