Self harm is a concept that both impacts people and is hard for some to understand. Some can’t imagine going out of their way to hurt themselves on purpose, however, the origin and reason behind self harming behaviors is typically more complex than simply wanting to...
The Psychology of the Madonna Whore Complex
"Where such men love, they have no desire, and where they desire, they cannot love." This quote directly from Sigmund Freud describes a phenomenon he called the Madonna Whore Complex. The Madonna Whore Complex is deeply rooted in misogynistic beliefs and is damaging...
Why Do Some Vagina Owners Get Labiaplasties?
With numerous cosmetic surgeries all promising a more beautiful and happier you, how does one decide to get labiaplasty? What is labiaplasty and why do some vagina owners decide to get it? How does labiaplasty changes one’s view of themselves and their sexual...
How to Stop Caring What People Think
Wanting to feel accepted by others around you is a natural desire. But, when you start to care more about what others think about you then you think about yourself, you might start to allow others to assign meaning to your life. Untangling how others feel vs. you we...
How to Reparent Yourself Through Inner Child Work
As children, we need consistency, security, safety, and healthy modeling of emotions to make sense of our internal experiences and emotional needs. Sadly, not all of us get to have those essential needs met and as a result, we start to be out of touch with our own...
What is High Functioning Depression? 6 Signs to Watch For
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 280 million people of all ages in the world struggle with depression. In the United States alone, 21 million adults have experienced at least one severe depressive episode in their life. Depression is one of the...
The Complex Grieving of Ambiguous Loss
At some point in life, most people will deal with loss and grief. While natural, people experience grief differently, and not all grief is created equal. Ambiguous loss is one of those cases. This type of loss presents ambiguity that complicates the grief process and...
How to Create Safety for Men to Feel Emotionally Vulnerable
We currently exist in a society where the expressions “man up,” or “stop crying and be a man” are utilized all too frequently. When men are told to “suck it up” and “be strong” (aka – hide their authentic thoughts and feelings), it creates a sense of unsafely for them...
How to Shrink Your Inner Critic
Many people have an inner critic. The loud and relentless narrator in the back of our heads that is constantly providing evidence for our shortcomings. Maybe it's what a "crappy job" you did in that interview or why you still haven't lost the "pandemic pounds." ...