Is CBT gaslighting?
Learning From Larry: Clinical Insights on Athlete Abuse
As a former competitive gymnast, and a current therapist and child abuse specialist, the Larry Nassar case is one I’ve been fixated on for awhile. It encapsulates so many key dynamics of both sexual abuse, and also sports culture. There are lots of great articles and books on it (I recommend The Girls: An All-American Town, a Predatory Doctor, and the Untold Story of the Gymnasts Who Brought Him Down by Abigail Pesta) so I’ll resist the urge to do a deep dive myself and instead offer some preventive tips for parents of children in competitive sports
Breathing exercises? No thanks - a nuanced take on coping skills
One of my favorite things about working with kids and teens is their brutal honesty, and nothing is more relatable than the face a kid makes when I mention the term “breathing exercises.” I’m right there with them - breathing exercises are often pitched as a magic solution to very real problems, and given there’s nothing magic about it. I would feel a little bit scammed by the notion as well, and anytime someone has told me to “take a deep breath” my inner teenager rolls her eyes too.
Grief 101: Where to Begin
Right after a loss, especially the first big loss you’ve ever had, it can be hard to find your footing. Here is as good of a place to start as any. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. You’ll hear about the 5 stages, and there’s some truth to it, but most people end up in some stages a lot more than others, and they’re cyclical so you don’t really ever get to feel completely done with them either.
Is This Flag Red or Beige? Discerning Dating Concerns
Whether recovering from a genuinely abusive ex or just a toxic past relationship, it’s normal for our past relationships to color our present day dating decisions. It can be hard to parse out what is healthy self-preservation and what is projecting value judgments onto otherwise innocuous qualities.