“In true love, you attain freedom. When you love, you bring freedom to the person you love. If the opposite is true, it is not true love.” Thich Nhat Hanh, True Love It’s no secret that romantic relationships are complicated. So many of us strive for perfect relationships based on unrealistic standards, or love out of familiar family patterns. We may find ourselves feeling stuck in our relationships – mindlessly living day by day in …
Most people who know me, know that I am an avid reader of spiritual, psychological and health & wellness books. A book I frequently use in my work is “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D. The title isn’t so appealing to most lay people, but the content is a treasure for all humans who endeavor to live life with fullness and passion. Don’t get me wrong, it is not about sex, …
Nicole Friedman, Psy.D. In today’s modern world where women are required to juggle several hats, creating balance can be quite a challenging endeavor. As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and professional, I am all too familiar with walking that fine line on a daily basis. We as women are innately relationship based, and feel the need to give 100% of ourselves to everything we do, often at our own personal expense. However, attempting to …
Anni Johnston, LMHC, D/MT Many people use the term “co-dependency” to describe an over-involved stance with others in their life. Originally it was coined to apply to those in an enabling relationship with someone in an addiction. Now its meaning has broadened to describe anyone who repeatedly finds himself or herself wrapped up in a caregiving, over-planning, problem-fixing manner with people in their lives. There is nothing inherently wrong with caregiving, planning or fixing problems, …
