Does being reminded of an incident, trauma or difficult memory from your past trigger you to act or feel unlike yourself? Do you notice a change in your demeanor, attitude, physical or mental well-being when this happens? People often seek therapy to help gain the tools needed to better understand the things that set them off and how to process them. While you may not have full control over your own triggers, it is important to learn how to respond to them more skillfully to help improve the overall quality of your life.

Couples who begin therapy typically do so in an attempt to make progress on an existing issue within their relationship, oftentimes something related to communication (or lack thereof!), or arguing (or doing it too frequently!).  They come into therapy asking questions like “Do we fight more than we should?”.....”What’s normal?”....”How often do other couples fight?”

Move over Man-Cave and step aside She-Shed....in this month's therapy moment, Irene Schriener, LMFT is introducing us to the We-Nook!

Get the scoop on this sacred space for you and your partner, and learn how you can create one TODAY in this video. (Hint: No trips to Home Depot required - it's easier than you think!)

If you and your partner have a We-Nook or a similar space, we'd love to hear about it! Share the details or your photos in the comments below!

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re a little more hard on yourself than you’d like to be. Showing compassion for others often comes easy, and more so to those we’re close with. Yet when it comes to the closest relationship we have of them all - the relationship with ourselves - we tend to be less understanding or forgiving of our missteps, while judging ourselves much more harshly than we do others.

We’re going to give you plenty of tips and inspiration on how to negate these behaviors, BUT before we get started, show yourself some compassion

Do you find yourself in defense mode often? If so, you're not alone! Being on the defensive is more common than you might think, but having the ability to recognize it AND the tools to combat it will make a world of difference!

In this month's therapy moment, Breanna Mann, LMFT breaks down what defensiveness could look like for you, and teaches us how to combat defensiveness to become better communicators!

The existence of the “honeymoon” phase is one of the most commonly denied or unacknowledged phase in relationships.  We know it exists, and we know that we’re likely to exit it eventually (especially if we’re not proactively working on ourselves and our relationships!), but new couples deep in the throws of the honeymoon phase are usually the first to deny its validity.  

And honestly - it makes sense.  When we’re in the beginning stages of a new relationship, we’re excited!

There is A LOT going on in the world right now. With anxiety-inducing and emotionally-charged issues coming at us from every direction, it's inevitable that we're going to come across people with opinions we don't agree with, and some that may even make comments or statements that make us feel uncomfortable.

This is never an easy situation to be in, but when it's someone in your family, these conversations can be even more difficult to manage.

Dating has changed A LOT over the last couple of decades, and even more so over the past few years. Standard dating advice about where to meet potential love interests used to include meeting someone at a bar or being introduced by a friend. Even getting set up on a blind date felt somewhat exotic! But nowadays, almost all of our dates can be considered “blind” as more and more people are reaching for their tablets and phones to meet potential love interests on dating sites and apps.

You remember the feeling, don't you? You know - the feeling you got when you and your partner first got together. You felt so safe in their arms, and so secure with a simple kiss. You wanted nothing more than to be around them; breathe in their air; dwell in their space; because it felt like home. It was home.  And it was probably hard to imagine that feeling could or would ever leave you.

But then one day, it’s gone.