At Core Values Counseling, we want you to know one thing above all else: we care about your mental health. Our deepest desire has always been to make counseling accessible, safe, and supportive for as many people as possible. That’s why the recent changes to Oregon...
In Part 1 of this series, we explored what it means to love a parent who may not be able to meet your emotional needs. And in Part 2, we learned how to parent your own children while navigating that same dynamic. Today, we turn to a part of this work that often goes...
In Part 1 of this series, we explored what it means to love a parent who may not be able to meet your emotional needs. Now, we’re turning our attention to parenting your own children while navigating that same dynamic. This can be one of the most emotionally...
It’s a painful truth for many of us: the realization that a parent we love deeply may not be emotionally available in the way we need. We want to feel seen, supported, and understood — but instead, we often walk away from interactions feeling dismissed, misunderstood,...
There’s a quiet ache that can settle into long-term relationships: the feeling of coexisting rather than truly connecting. You’re raising kids, building careers, caring for aging parents — and somewhere in all that hustle, the person you once felt closest to...
If you read Part 1 of this series, you saw how a simple pause — especially when paired with playful rituals — can help kids regulate big emotions through connection. But pausing isn’t just for little ones. In our adult relationships, it’s just as powerful....
One of the most powerful tools we have as parents and caregivers is simple: the pause. It’s not something most of us were taught growing up. Many of us didn’t have caregivers who paused; we had people who reacted. But choosing to pause — to stop,...
As parents, we so often feel the pressure to be calm, steady, and composed — especially when we’re struggling inside. We want to protect our children from our hard emotions, to shield them from the anxiety, sadness, or overwhelm we carry. But the truth is,...
Three Practical Steps to Reconnect and Realign In Part 1 of this series, we explored what can happen when one partner has gone through a season of personal growth — and the other hasn’t. It’s more common than you might think, especially in long-term...
Navigating the Emotional Gap with Curiosity and Compassion It’s a situation I see often in couples counseling: one partner embarks on a journey of personal growth — through therapy, spiritual practice, a career shift, or a big life transition — and the other...
Summer has a way of getting away from us, doesn’t it? One minute we’re talking about warmer weather, and the next thing we know, school is starting again and the chaos of fall is creeping in. That’s why now is the perfect time to plan — not just for vacations...
In the first post of this series, we explored the importance of accepting influence in relationships. Now let’s look at how this principle can completely shift the way we experience conflict with our partner. When couples seek out couples counseling,...
In my work with couples, one theme that comes up again and again is the importance of accepting influence from one another. This idea, drawn from the Gottman Institute’s extensive research on what makes relationships thrive, is one of the strongest...
Spring often brings a sense of renewal — but when you’re facing economic stress, it can also cast a heavy shadow. Groceries cost more, gas strains the budget, and planning a summer getaway might feel out of reach. Still, even in financially uncertain...
As the days get longer and the sun starts peeking out more often, many of us find ourselves dreaming of summer. Vacations, weekends at the coast, backyard BBQs — it’s a season that holds so much potential for joy, rest, and reconnection. But here’s the...
I’m back this week with the third and final installment of our series on EMDR. If this form of therapy is new to you, start here. Last week, we explored what EMDR looks like in a session. Today, we’re talking about what it could mean for you and your partner if...
Last week, we kicked off a three-part series on a form of therapy called EMDR (read more about that here), and you might have some questions. If EMDR sounds a little mysterious, you’re not alone! Many clients come to me curious — and maybe even a bit...
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a painful pattern or reacting to current situations in ways that feel bigger than the moment calls for, you’re not alone. For many people, these patterns are the echoes of past trauma that never got the chance...
Recovering from an affair is one of the most challenging journeys a couple can face. Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the key stages of affair recovery using The Gottman Institute’s Trust Revival Method: Atonement, Attunement, and Attachment. Each step...
Today, we’re wrapping up a four-part series on affair recovery. We’ve discussed the first two stages of The Gottman’s Trust Revival Method: Atonement and Attunement. The final stage, Attachment, is just as critical as the first two. Let’s jump in. The...
