Have you ever noticed how harsh you can be with yourself? Maybe you make a mistake at work and spend the rest of the day thinking about what you should have done differently. Or you have a conversation with someone…
Have you ever noticed how quickly you take responsibility for how someone else is feeling? Your partner comes home in a bad mood, and immediately you’re wondering what you did wrong. A friend is upset about something, and you find…
Have you ever felt like you’re arguing with yourself? Part of you wants to say no; another part is already typing, “Sure! I’d be happy to.” Part of you wants a closer relationship; another part pulls away as soon as…
One of the hardest things about talking about childhood experiences is that many people feel like they have to prove they were “bad enough.” They’ll say things like, “Nothing terrible happened.” “Other people had it much worse.” “My parents did…
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m an adult now.”“Why does this still bother me?”“Shouldn’t I be over this by now?” It’s a question I hear surprisingly often. Especially from people who don’t think they had a “bad” childhood. They’ll…
Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking: “This happened years ago.” “I know it’s irrational.” “Why am I still reacting like this?” “Why can’t I just get over it?” It’s one of the questions I hear most often. Usually it’s asked with…
Most of us have ways of getting through hard things. We all develop strategies that help us manage stress, difficult emotions, or experiences that once felt overwhelming. Sometimes those strategies continue to serve us. Other times, they begin to leave…
If you’ve been looking for mental health support, you’ve probably noticed the words counseling and therapy used almost interchangeably. That can make it hard to know whether there’s actually a difference or if you’re supposed to choose one over the…
Opening up emotionally can feel overwhelming, especially when past experiences, communication struggles, or fear of vulnerability get in the way. I’ve worked with many individuals and couples here in Massachusetts, and I’ve seen firsthand how therapy can help you gently…
A few years ago, I bought my kids a pillow with an emotional wheel printed on it. At the time, I would hand it to them and say, “Tell me five things you felt today.” They’d scan the wheel and…