Search Results for: empathy
“In order to empathize with your experience, I must be willing to believe you as you see your experience and not how I imagine your experience to be.” Brené Brown All my survival instincts are on high alert and every possible transgression, thoughtless action or selfish choice kicks me into a level of outrage that […]
READ ARTICLEIn an earlier article “Why Group Therapy for Men: 5 Benefits,” I wrote about how working with other men in a group context can be beneficial. The article raised some questions from readers: one reader said: “Ok, I’m interested but what are the mechanics of this? How does that actually happen? Another asked “what is […]
READ ARTICLEAfter divorce, the journey of motherhood unfurls in unexpected patterns—each cord intertwined with tenderness and complexity. The quiet weight of guilt becomes all the more intricate, imbued with new shades of longing, regret, and fierce love. Traversing this landscape, mothers are called to a profound form of grace—one that acknowledges their humanity while celebrating their […]
READ ARTICLEFeeling heard and understood when we communicate can be tough. You think you said something clearly, then the response you get does not make sense. Or you think you’re responding to what someone just said, and suddenly they sigh—or worse, mutter, “Were you even listening?” Even in close, caring relationships, misunderstandings happen all the time. […]
READ ARTICLEBy Dr. Latasha D. McFarland (Harrison) A New Season, Liminal and Unsettled As adulthood unfurls in unexpected directions, I find myself living an experience I could not have anticipated—one which has quietly stirred the deep waters of empathy within me and unearthed a gentle grief I had assumed was long at rest. Recently, I entered […]
READ ARTICLEPeople often ask: How do you stay married to the same person for over 30 years? Well, here’s the honest answer: You don’t. The person I married 31 years ago is not the same person I live with today. And I’m certainly not the same either. We’ve both changed—sometimes in sync, sometimes not. Somehow, we’ve […]
READ ARTICLEImagine you hear a loud thud coming from outside. What thoughts come to mind? Maybe “That’s concerning…” or “Oh, they were doing road work nearby today…” or “That’s that package I ordered…” Any of those might fit with what has really happened; any one may well be reality. Or none of those might fit. What […]
READ ARTICLEI speak three languages — French, English, and Spanish — and I can tell you from experience: understanding the words doesn’t mean you fully understand the culture. You can know how to order un café con leche in Spanish and still feel totally out of place at a family table in Barcelona. You can understand […]
READ ARTICLEImago Therapy is Not Just for Couples “Mom, are you being nice or are you being mean? I’m trying to be nice, so you need to try too.” — A precocious little girl in a viral moment of emotional wisdom We often say that children live in the space between their parents—not just physically, but […]
READ ARTICLEThe Transformative Power of Imago Therapy It’s Not About the Toothpaste In relationships, it’s rarely about the toothpaste. It’s about what the toothpaste represents—what lives beneath the surface of our irritation, what old stories are being unconsciously activated, and how deeply we long to feel understood. Jayne Gumpel, a gifted North American Imago therapist and […]
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