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 […]
The Family Scapegoat: Understanding the Black Sheep Role and How to Heal
Written by Gwen Soat, LCMHCA You Might Be the Family Scapegoat if… You feel like the black sheep in your family. You are blamed for problems that were never fully yours. Your mistakes are remembered longer than anyone else’s. Your successes are minimized, ignored, or picked apart. You feel emotionally excluded from your own family. […]
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 […]
Interrupting Negative Thoughts: Your Mind Is Not the Boss of You
Interrupting Negative Thoughts When I was a kid I had opinions. I know this is utterly shocking for those who actually know. Shocking. And I remember saying to another kid who wanted me to do something I did not want to do on the playground, “You’re not the boss of me!” Our thoughts can for […]
How to Deal with Suffering and Pain: Stop Making an Advanced Purchase
“You can’t buy a ticket for a train that’s not at the station. This isn’t like vacation where it costs less if you buy it in advance. You don’t even know if this train is coming. That is not how to deal with suffering and pain. Or, shall I say, possible suffering and pain.” I […]