The Casey Anthony Trial and Family Dynamics
Can we learn from the fascination and national interest in the Casey Anthony trial? There appears to be something enticing and luring as a story unfolds about a young mother accused of murdering her...
View ArticleThe Casey Anthony Trial: From Fascination to Just Plain Sad
The highly publicized Orlando murder trial ended last weekend with 4th of July fireworks exploding on the 23rd floor of the Orange County, Florida courthouse.read more
View ArticleCasey Anthony: Out and About
In Orlando, Florida, Casey Anthony was released from jail today. As she walked out the front door of the jail at 12:10 AM, she was accompanied by her attorney and surrounded by law enforcement, machine...
View ArticleHow Empathic Parenting Is the Antithesis of Narcissism
If you had a narcissistic parent or if you just live in this narcissistic culture today, you may be wondering a lot about parenting and how to do things differently so you can raise a healthy,...
View ArticleEmpathy Can Spruce up Your Lovin!
Love relationships go through stages of development. Don't we all wish we could stay in the first stage of ultimate infatuation! Let's discuss three stages of normal growth for love connections. I like...
View ArticleNarcissism and Entitlement: "Do I Have to Stand in Line?
A client once told me a story about how her narcissistic mother would never stand in lines. She was too important and had no patience. She also liked to gamble, but when she went to casinos she...
View ArticleDo I Have To Be Nice To People Who Are Mean To Me?
In the narcissistic family, it's all about image. The focus is usually on "how it looks to others." This can cause troops of people pleasers and encourage behavior that is not authentic. When children...
View ArticleWhy Am I So Afraid of Being Alone?
Learning to be alone with oneself is surely an art. We are socially and culturally encouraged to be "with"... not alone. Having many friends, being social, connecting with community, and being part of...
View ArticleGrief Is Not a Mental Illness
A client recently said, "I wish there were a mental health diagnosis for serial grief, I am not mentally ill. Mostly just sad and grieving the vision of the mother I so desperately wanted."Many men and...
View ArticleIs Forgiveness Possible When It Involves Child Abuse?
The word "forgiveness" is laden with meaning and misunderstanding. We were all taught that nice girls and boys forgive and forget. The clear message is that we are expected to forgive anyone who has...
View ArticleWhy Boys Do Not Tell About Sexual Abuse
The dark cloud over Penn State revealing a sexual abuse scandal also holds a painful overcast shade for male victims of sexual abuse. The news of the cover-up and victimization of boys at this...
View ArticleAre You “Recovering” from the Merry! Merry! And the Ho! Ho! Ho's?
It happens every year. As the holidays approach, therapy sessions turn to discussions about seasonal plans and reconnecting with family of origin. Outside of the office, friends and family begin the...
View ArticleThe Legacy of Distorted Love: Post-Romantic Stress
What did you learn about love in childhood?read more
View ArticleA Differential Diagnosis for Whining
"Don't bitch and moan!""Get over it already!""Look for the good... quit complaining!" Sound familiar?read more
View ArticleHelp! I'm Divorcing a Narcissist
Although there is some truth that who we marry reflects our own emotional development, there is also a different and more complicated flavor involved when one is drawn into a narcissist's world.read more
View ArticleWhen Mother’s Day Hurts
I’ve invited a guest writer to join me in writing about Mother’s Day this year. Peg Streep, author of Mean Mothers, co-authored the following piece.read more
View ArticleThe Mirror Speaks in the Mother-Daughter Connection
Having studied mother-daughter connections for twenty years, as well as writing about maternal narcissism, I find a misnomer that keeps rearing its unexpected head. Mother’s Day is approaching and this...
View ArticleIt’s All About Me! Recovery for Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents
“If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother!” I guess this quote came from Freud, the father of psychology? Well, that could bring a whole bag of analysis and interpretation, but what’s really significant...
View ArticleWhy Boys Do Not Tell About Sexual Abuse
The dark cloud over Penn State revealing a sexual abuse scandal also holds a painful overcast shade for male victims of sexual abuse. The news of the cover-up and victimization of boys at this...
View ArticleWhen Madness Hits the Home Front
Does life really have to be a series of grief and goodbyes? Are you tired of people saying, “your parents did the best they could” and “get over it already!?”read more
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