For some of us, holidays are a time we want to make everything 'perfect' for family and friends, whether it be with meals, gifts or decorating for festivities, and while it's natural for us to want to create a pleasurable time for loved ones, sometimes the pressure we put on ourselves to do so can...Continue Reading
Mentalization is a skill that helps us understand why people do what they do, and helps us become more aware of how other people's thoughts, feelings, and ideas differ from our own. The result? We foster empathy, and build stronger, more resilient relationships! Clinical psychologist Maggie Harris shows us how the practice of mentalization works,...Continue Reading
For many, although part of us wants to change, another part of us has a hard time imagining doing things differently. In her blog on Exploring Ambivalence, Dr. Maeve O'Leary-Barrett looks at the value of paying attention to ambivalence with a special regard for how it relates to difficulties in our relationships.Continue Reading
We can't always say 'yes'... in fact 'no' is not only sometimes necessary but also, a good answer. Dr Lisa Linardatos discusses people-pleasing, boundaries and the discomfort at the root of our avoidance when it comes to letting other people down.Continue Reading
“It’s your fault… no, it’s your fault… no, it's your fault…” Does this blame game sound familiar? We have a tendency to assign fault to ourselves or others, for things that go wrong both inside and outside of our control. But is it always helpful, or even accurate? Dr. Amber Labow urges us to look...Continue Reading
Our capacity to connect with others is key to our psychological health, and the way that we express our emotions is key to our capacity to form close relationships. Social signaling - non-verbal signs we convey to others - has a strong impact when it comes to forming and maintaining our relationships.Continue Reading
In part 2 of this 2-part post on borderline personality disorder or BPD, Dr Danit Nitka explores some of the specifics of therapy for people with BPD and what's important to know in that process.Continue Reading
In part 1 of this 2-part post on borderline personality disorder or BPD, Dr Danit Nitka explores what BPD is and gives advice on how individuals can get the help they need.Continue Reading
Focus on the future is often accompanied by worries about hypothetical situations. Indeed, the things we care about the most are often ambiguous and unknowable.Continue Reading
Although it’s understandable to want to avoid negative emotions, either by numbing ourselves when they arise, or wishing we could eliminate them altogether, there are several reasons why this isn’t actually a good idea.Continue Reading
