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 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 […]
READ ARTICLELove is a beautiful journey, but for many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) couples, relationships exist within a unique landscape—one shaped by cultural expectations, generational trauma, systemic challenges, and the desire to create something strong, joyful, and lasting. Navigating love while carrying these layers can be challenging, but healing is possible. The Getting […]
READ ARTICLEJoshua sat on the park bench, watching the golden leaves drift to the ground. Beside him, Brianna gazed at the quiet lake, her fingers entwined with his. It was peaceful now, but they both knew their love had weathered storms. Love was never just a straight path—it was a cycle, a relationship journey. The Romance […]
READ ARTICLEThe Imago Dance: Understanding Relationship Dynamics Imago Theory, developed by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt, provides a relational framework that examines how childhood experiences shape adult relationships. At the heart of this theory lies the dynamic interplay between minimizers and maximizers, creating a unique relational dance that can either lead to misunderstanding or become a […]
READ ARTICLEThe Apple TV+ series “Shrinking” is a delightful clash of therapy styles, where chaos meets control. On one side, you have Jimmy (Jason Segel), a grieving therapist who decides that traditional methods are for suckers. Instead, he dives headfirst into his clients’ lives—inviting one to crash in his pool house and even interrupting a date […]
READ ARTICLEI don’t know about you, but I feel the time between Thanksgiving and the New Year is complicated. A friend of mine refers to this time of the year as the holler-daze! So, what should a relational peep do when so much fills the space between us?! Holidays, family time, geo-politics – all these create […]
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