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Family

Our families have the potential to be our biggest supporters, those we turn to when we need help or comfort. At the same time, many family members come with “baggage,” and spending time with them can even be triggering. If your family of origin included abuse or toxicity of any kind, time with family can be painful. 

If you have complicated feelings about your family, or even need to sever ties with them to live most healthfully — that’s OK. A good therapist can help you work through these relationships and forge a better understanding of your family dynamic and what created it. For most of us, enforcing boundaries with difficult family members can go a long way toward building better relationships, allowing future encounters to be less problematic, and more satisfying.

A therapist can help you set boundaries that are clear, consistent, considerate, and healthy for you. It can be hard to communicate boundaries with your family, and they may be resistant at first. But you have every right to assert your needs, even with family.

holiday, setting boundaries
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Published on: 22 Dec 2020
  • 5 minute read

A No Nonsense Guide to Setting Holiday Boundaries

Published on: 22 Dec 2020
  • Written byClare Wiley
  • Dec 22, 2020
Boundaries are tough. Asserting your needs, or turning people down with a gentle but firm “no,” can feel…
Nora Vose Adoption Story
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Published on: 25 Nov 2020
  • 9 minute read

Dispelling Assumptions and Misconceptions About Adoption and Mental Health

Published on: 25 Nov 2020
  • Written byNora Vose
  • Nov 25, 2020
Every year there are over 100,000 adoptions in the United States alone. While this is clearly a common…
Read More
Published on: 24 Nov 2020
  • 6 minute read

Do the Holidays Have to Be Horrible This Year?

Published on: 24 Nov 2020
  • Written byClare Wiley
  • Nov 24, 2020
Whether it’s having to listen to your relatives’ questionable political rants or grimacing your way through an overcooked…
family sitting at dinner together looking slightly tense
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Published on: 21 Nov 2020
  • 9 minute read

How to Identify the Signs and Impact of a Dysfunctional Family

Published on: 21 Nov 2020
  • Written byElianna Lev
  • Nov 21, 2020
What characterizes a dysfunctional family? The answer might seem simple. Movies like the Royal Tenenbaums and Knives Out…
Mother holding daughter at psychologist office
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Published on: 12 Sep 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
  • 5 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R

Everything You Need To Know About Family Therapy

Published on: 12 Sep 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
  • Written byElizabeth Su
  • Sep 12, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
Every family has its struggles. Life throws curveballs, tragedies happen, and conflicts arise. It can be hard to…
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Published on: 05 Sep 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
  • 5 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R

Family Counseling Near Me

Published on: 05 Sep 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
  • Written byBrittney Saline
  • Sep 05, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
Television often romanticizes family dynamics. We are shown kids going to school while their parents are at work…
mother going crazy with small children at home
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Published on: 27 Jun 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • 5 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

A Guide To Surviving Your Kids’ Summer Vacation…Pandemic Style

Published on: 27 Jun 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • Written byWendy Wisner
  • Jun 27, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
Most parents would agree that this was the most bonkers, upside down spring ever. We were contending with…
State of Our Families
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Published on: 18 May 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
  • 7 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R

The State of Our Families

Published on: 18 May 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
  • Written byReina Gattuso
  • May 18, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Jill E. Daino, LCSW-R
During Mental Health Awareness Month we’re diving into “The State of Our Mental Health” by exploring the common…
infidelity-cheating-impact-kids
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Published on: 15 Feb 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • 5 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S

Infidelity’s Impact on Children

Published on: 15 Feb 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • Written byWendy Wisner
  • Feb 15, 2020
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
No marriage is perfect, and while most couples don’t enter their marriages expecting infidelity to happen, the hard…
family judgement, when you're family doesn't change
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Published on: 20 Dec 2019
  • 4 minute read

What Happens When You Change But Your Family Doesn’t

Published on: 20 Dec 2019
  • Written byWendy Wisner
  • Dec 20, 2019
A few years ago, I was having a difficult time with a family member of mine. We have…

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