A teenager emails that his parents treat him more harshly than they treat his older brother. They are not abusive, but they consistently hold him to a stricter standard. His brother gets Cs and they don’t say anything. But when … Continue reading
People often make appointments with a therapist/counselor/life coach to “fine-tune” some aspect of their life. For example, a reader emails that he and his wife want to attend marriage counseling to help make things “as vibrant and healthy as possible.” … Continue reading
A website reader writes that her father died almost 20 years ago. She considers herself fully recovered, but when something reminds her of him, the feelings come rushing back. She asks me if she needs medication to keep her from … Continue reading
One of the most common themes I encounter when talking to people centers around relationships. Couples often tell me that they don’t feel “connected,” or that their relationship failed because they were not “connected.” When I ask them what they … Continue reading
A faithful follower of this column writes, “I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a compulsive talker. My crazy need to say something or answer someone (even when no answer is required) often gets me into trouble. When I talk … Continue reading
A reader writes that her best friend is unhappy in her marriage. “It really pains me to see her this way. I think she’s looking for someone to tell her to leave him. Is it my place to do this? … Continue reading
People sometimes tell me how concerned they are that they — or their children — not be “losers.” They’re almost always surprised when I tell them that losing can actually be good for your mental health. In a competitive sense, … Continue reading
Many people have cut back on their spending because of the current economy. This makes sense — provided that these conditions are just a reminder of what they should have been doing all along. Unfortunately, sometimes this isn’t the case. … Continue reading
A Delaware Coast Press reader emails that he and his wife argue quite a bit. Though it seems destructive, he says they always make up with the problem solved. He asks if arguing is a constructive way to solve problems. … Continue reading
As we approach the holiday season, financial issues can sometimes become a source of, shall we say … discussion … when debating what to purchase for gifts or maybe just where to have dinner tonight. If these issues seem to … Continue reading
We see so many sad examples of spouses and partners who endure consistent and systematic meanness from their significant others, i.e., emotional abuse. There are a number of warning signs that you might be in an emotionally abusive relationship, some … Continue reading
I recently wrote an article saying that alcoholism and substance abuse are problem behaviors, not diseases. A disease, I wrote, is something that can only be stopped by passive submission to medical intervention such as surgery or some sort of … Continue reading