Author: Lena Aburdene Derhally
Many of the couples I see in my practice are surprisingly not in couples therapy for the first time. In some cases they felt the therapy wasn’t working and they wanted to try a different approach, in other cases they had a bad experience but were still committed to making their relationship stronger. What are […]
READ ARTICLEOne of my clients came into my office one day for a last-minute appointment and he sounded anxious. I had been working with him as his psychotherapist for several months and we had just started to delve into some deeper issues as our therapeutic bond became stronger. It was in that session, for the first time in […]
READ ARTICLEPost US Presidential election, depending on where you live in the country, there are few safe spaces where people feel they can voice their real feelings. This is not just about the presidential candidates but views of government, policy and general grievances about the many injustices and suffering that has been happening in the US […]
READ ARTICLEA client sat across from me in my office sobbing. “I feel so lonely” she finally said after she collected herself. This particular woman has a lot of friends and a successful career- how could someone as bright and friendly as her feel lonely? This woman is not alone – the feelings of social isolation […]
READ ARTICLEOne of my favorite articles as of late highlights the research of John Gottman. You can read Masters of Love in The Atlantic. If you want the cliff notes version, it compares successful couples with unsuccessful couples (masters vs. disasters). What the research found was that successful couples exhibit kindness and generosity towards each other […]
READ ARTICLEDuring my training in Imago Relationship Therapy, one phrase has always stuck with me: “No one teaches us how to be in relationships.” If we have parents with a good marriage, modeling can be a great teacher but it’s still not the exact same thing as what it truly means to learn relationship skills. Intimate […]
READ ARTICLEHappiness is an elusive topic that has been studied and contemplated by many throughout history. While there are many theories and ideas of what it means to be happy, I decided to focus on the relational aspect of happiness in this blog. As an Imago relationship therapist and someone who specializes in helping my clients […]
READ ARTICLEThe Internet is a wealth of information. You can get medical advice, relationship advice, learn how to cook and really find anything you need. Some of the most popular viral articles these days are ones on relationship advice. As an Imago relationship therapist I can’t help but click on an article posted in my social […]
READ ARTICLEGrief and Loss Loss, bereavement, and grief are often first associated with death. Grief counseling is not often thought for anyone who hasn’t experienced a death of a loved one. However, grief and mourning encompass so much more beyond loss that comes from death. Loss of a job, autonomy and independence, a pet, a campaign, […]
READ ARTICLEThere are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ people. Some are a little better or a little worse but all are activated more by misunderstanding than malice. A blindness to what is going on in each other’s hearts.…. Nobody sees anybody truly but all through the flaws of their own egos. That is the way we all […]
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