Written by Gwen Soat, LCMHCA Are you in the Family Fixer role? You Might Be in the Family Fixer Role If… You have become the “therapist friend” or the “fixer partner.” You feel guilty choosing yourself or your own needs if it makes someone else upset. You struggle to say “no.” You anticipate problems before […]
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma
Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy be Helpful in Treating Trauma? Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has become an easy target in online trauma spaces, and some of that criticism is earned. CBT is structured talk therapy built around the link between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and it is heavily researched and widely covered by insurance. The problem […]
When Marriage Separation May Be Appropriate
Marriage is undeniably hard at times. All marriages experience struggle and there are times when couples need to come to counseling to help get their relationship back on the right track. Marriage counseling can be a great help to keeping a relationship going for the long haul. There is one time, however, when couples counseling […]
Coercive Control Deep Dive
What is Coercive Control? Coercive control is a much better name for domestic abuse, domestic violence, or interpersonal violence because many people still picture abuse as only physical or sexual violence. The reality is that coercive control is a sustained pattern of power and control that slowly erodes another person’s autonomy, agency, and sense of […]
Romance Fiction Red Flags: Unpacking Harmful Tropes in Fictional Love Stories (Part 2)
Written by Gwen Soat, LCMHCA Romance Fiction Red Flags Last week we began unpacking the red flags we see in romantic fiction. This week we unpack the final six in our two-part series. 7. Romance Fiction Red Flag: Non-Consensual or Coercive Behavior Portrayed as Desire In romance fiction, a partner may kiss or touch the […]