We all have a basic human need for physical affection – to be touched in ways that feel safe and comforting, or sometimes in ways that simply create pleasure. A back rub can be relaxing. 👍🏼 A long hug – nourishing. 😌 Scratching an itch – incredibly...
Have you ever considered lowering expectations to avoid disappointment? Guilty. 🙋🏻♀️ I’ve not only thought it, I’m pretty sure I’ve said it out loud – to myself and to my children. 🤦🏻♀️ But what if I told you that when you expect the best outcome, it is...
Real quick – Tell me what word you would use to label this group of emotions: happy, joyful, confident, excited, victorious 😁 Ok, how about these? angry, jealous, sad, lonely, scared 😭 Did you use positive and negative? Good and bad? Healthy and unhealthy? When...
When things are unpredictable, it’s normal to feel anxious (hello new school year; hello puberty). When adults are anxious, kids absorb that anxiety and add it to their own, magnifying the impact. And when kids are anxious (like maybe now as they see the back to...
One of my most unforgettable patient encounters happened about 6 years ago and involved a 12 year old. I don’t even remember why she was referred to me, but I’ll never forget how she answered a very routine question I asked: Have you had any romantic relationships or...
