In the age of swiping and short-lived connections, how do you find a date that's truly worth keeping? The key lies not just in finding someone you’re attracted to, but in cultivating a bond that lasts. Whether you’re new to dating or have been on the scene for a while, here are some essential tips inspired by the book How to Get a Date Worth Keeping by Henry Cloud...

Dating has evolved over the years, but for many, the frustrations remain the same. Swiping left and right, endless first dates that don’t lead anywhere, and the constant pressure to find “the one” can leave anyone feeling stuck. The truth is, dating isn’t working for many people—and that’s because most of us are still using outdated and passive approaches. So, what’s the solution? It’s time to shift our mindset, challenge traditional dating myths, and reframe what dating can and should be about.

If you had to ask me what it is I want for my clients more than anything else, it would be self compassion. Regardless of age or presenting problem, I notice that just about everyone struggles to show themselves love. “I don’t measure up” and “I’m not good enough” are sadly the narratives so many of my clients are trapped in. When I suggest extending self compassion, many are hesitant because they don’t think being soft towards  themselves will ultimately work in getting the result they want. Our culture has sadly labeled self compassion as a weakness and self criticism as a strength.

How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times

A decade’s worth of research on gratitude has shown me that when life is going well, gratitude allows us to celebrate and magnify the goodness. But what about when life goes badly? In the midst of the economic maelstrom that has gripped our country, I have often been asked if people can—or even should—feel grateful under such dire circumstances.

We all have an inner voice—a guiding presence that shapes our decisions, feelings, and interactions with the world. But have you ever wondered if this voice is truly yours, or if it's a mix of old fears, other people’s ideas, social conditioning, and past wounds? Internal Family Systems (IFS) Theory offers a powerful framework for understanding and connecting with your authentic inner self (also referred to as inmost self, core self, or God-image) by focusing on what is known as the 8 C’s.

3 Benefits of Dating & Marriage Counseling for Modern Relationships

Modern life’s hustle of busy careers creates a ton of stress on relationships, sometimes resulting in feelings of disconnection or being misunderstood with your significant other. Couples therapy aims to bridge the gap of that disconnect. It isn’t waving a white flag accepting defeat, it is about choosing a path that will strengthen and help you learn how to invest into life with your partner. 

Here are three ways counseling can help a couple lay the groundwork for a solid friendship, boosting the relationship as a whole. 

Helping Kids and Teens Navigate Big Emotions: Empowering Self-Expression and Self-Discovery

Growing up comes with a rollercoaster of emotions—sometimes overwhelming, sometimes confusing. Whether it’s anxiety about school, sadness from friendships changing, or frustration with family dynamics, all of these emotions are valid and important. As a community, we can work together to help kids and teens understand what their emotions are telling them, rather than feeling controlled by them.

Understanding Big Emotions

Most people, adults and kids alike, are conditioned to believe that there are "good" and "bad" emotions. One important reframe is understanding that there are no "good" or "bad" emotions—only positive and negative emotions. Emotions like happiness, excitement, and hope evoke positive feelings, while emotions like sadness, anger, and envy evoke negative feelings. This distinction is crucial because it teaches us that all emotions are important to feel and helps us to engage with those feelings to find the root cause, rather than avoid them and allow them to grow. Whether they make us feel better or worse, our emotions provide valuable information that we can learn from to better understand ourselves and our needs.

Family conversations can be a fun way to connect and bond as a family. Use this set of thought-provoking family conversation questions starters to encourage connection and spark interesting conversation with your kids. 

When Helping Hurts- For Family Members of those with OCD

We hear all the time “I’m so OCD” when someone is being particular or super tidy and while they are often saying this in humor, OCD is not just being super tidy or neat.  To show you a quick example of the differences between OCD and being “picky”, we’ve included a chart below.