Conflict rarely unravels all at once. More often, it happens in the moment our bodies move into overwhelm before our words can catch up. In my last post, we explored how intense reactions often come from protective parts of us — parts that step in quickly when...
Most couples come to therapy wanting the same thing: to feel understood, safe, and connected — especially in moments of conflict. And yet, when emotions run high, we often find ourselves reacting in ways that don’t reflect who we truly want to be. If you’ve...
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...
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,...
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,...
