Part of a healthy relationship is being about to navigate conflict in a healthy, effective way. Navigating conflict in healthy ways has its benefits: an opportunity to learn more about the person you’re in a relationship with, an opportunity to expand your emotional window of tolerance, and learn to not fear adversity or conflict. When [...]
I wasn’t prepared for it to say the least. Sitting over lunch with a therapist colleague, he asked me for my advice on getting his own therapist who was a “specialist.” Typically I poo poo the idea that one needs a specialist; however, I do see where this may be helpful. “It depends on what [...]
I spent like 95% of my childhood pretending to mom. Water babies, Barbie dolls, cabbage patch- you name it. I would disappear in my room and emerge hours later. Whenever I imagined being a mom in real life, I would’ve never imagined anything less than warm fuzzies, love, and perfection. In reality, everything is so [...]
When I was in my mid thirties, I was in danger of self destruction. I was suffering. It didn’t seem to matter that I knew why I did what I did (Oprah was so helpful). I kept doing it. I was so desperate for relief from my suffering, that I took an extreme step. I [...]
Learning and Memory: Why We Need It Our everyday life incorporates memory and learning. Where would we be without it? We use our memory to recall conversations, facts, tasks we have learned, or even something as simple as our own name. What is the difference between learning and memory? Learning is “the acquisition of skills [...]
Hi, my name is Brooke Whitley and I am soon to be graduating from Texas State with a bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Development and a minor in Psychology. I am also applying to graduate school to get my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I started going to therapy when I was only [...]
We have all been here. Struggling with vulnerability, but what does that mean or really look like in reality? Being vulnerable means sharing yourself, honestly and openly. Vulnerability involves letting the emotional walls of anger down to expose the more raw feelings of pain and love. A recent example for me was during an argument [...]
Years ago, when I was doing marriage preparation classes with a colleague, he told a story about a conversation he had with his then pregnant wife about what she was looking forward to sharing with their firstborn child. When Tom (not his real name) asked his wife Suzy (not her real name) what she was [...]
In the land of preschoolers, there is a song called “Bear Hunt”. And in this song you find the courage to go looking for a bear! Exciting! I know right??! Especially when you are 4 years old and repetition is life. The reason why I bring it up here is that there is a line [...]
