“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 […]
The Fawn Response and the Difference Between Niceness and Kindness
Being a “Nice Girl” and the Fawn Response One of my supervisees said something to me once that I haven’t stopped repeating since: “nice girls end up in trunks.” She wasn’t being dramatic. She was naming something super real; something a lot of us learned the hard way. We learned the habit of being endlessly […]
What if the Way You’re Thinking is Making Your Anxiety and Depression Worse?
Anxiety and Depression and How to Help Yourself If you’ve ever been told to “just stop worrying” or to “choose joy,” you already know how unhelpful that advice is. Anxiety and depression are not character flaws. Nor are they signs that your faith is weak. They are not things you can simply decide your way […]
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 […]
Romance Fiction Red Flags: Unpacking Harmful Tropes in Fictional Love Stories (Part 1)
Written by Gwen Soat, LCMHCA Romance Fiction – Part 1 Falling in love through romance fiction is a common pastime for many creatives and story-lovers alike. We read of star-crossed lovers defying the odds, of enemies-to-lovers who choose each other despite their flaws, and friends who find each other to be so much more. Fictional […]