I'll be honest — some hurts I don't let go easily, especially if it is a person I highly respect or care about. Even if the person apologizes, if it feels like they only half see what they did, my brain won't stop replaying it. Consciously, I accept the apology and believe in my … [Read more...] about When “I’m Sorry” Isn’t Enough: Navigating Apologies That Don’t Heal
Conflict Resolution
You Can’t Change Other People—Here’s What You *Can* Do
We can’t change others. We can’t, and we shouldn’t want to. I know—you may be thinking, If you knew so-and-so, you would change your mind about trying to change people. But regardless of whether someone else needs to change or not, it is not our job to do it. Besides, if … [Read more...] about You Can’t Change Other People—Here’s What You *Can* Do
Navigating Parenting Criticism: Grace for Imperfect Parents
Parenting is hard enough without carrying the weight of blame and criticism from adult children. As a therapist, I often hear parents express deep pain over this dynamic, but here is what I say: just as the Lord wants us to receive His grace, undeserved and freely given, we are … [Read more...] about Navigating Parenting Criticism: Grace for Imperfect Parents
Pearls Before Pigs: Biblical Wisdom for Setting Healthy Relationship Boundaries
How Jesus’s Teaching on “Pearls Before Pigs” Can Help You Guard Your Heart Stuck in a Painful Pattern There I was again, stuck in what had become a very familiar pattern. Maybe you’ve been there, too—finding yourself in yet another painful interaction with someone you care … [Read more...] about Pearls Before Pigs: Biblical Wisdom for Setting Healthy Relationship Boundaries
Understanding the Nature of Crisis: How to Digest Something You Didn’t See Coming
The holiest and heaviest moments in therapy are often sessions where the person sitting across from me is coming to grips with unthinkable news. Something has come up that has set off a bomb in their inner world and often their outer world. It might be the workplace sexual … [Read more...] about Understanding the Nature of Crisis: How to Digest Something You Didn’t See Coming
Defining The Work of Your Life
One day, while having lunch with a friend (who is also a therapist), she offhandedly remarked, “It’s my life’s work not to let my dad’s opinion control how I feel about myself.” This phrase really resonated with me, and I haven’t been able to shake it since. The concept … [Read more...] about Defining The Work of Your Life
