We often talk about mental health as an individual phenomenon that people must face alone. However, relationships – especially romantic relationships – are at the core of our mental health. Here are three steps to a happier, healthier romantic relationship (results may vary): Step 1: Identify and confront your own insecurities. There is an old…
With spring just around the corner, you might have started to reconsider dipping your toe in the dating pool again. Whether you’re fresh out of that COVID-situationship, have been enjoying the single life for some time, or are ready to find “the one,” there is no denying that dating in 2023 doesn’t come with its…
For an updated and expanded version of the model, visit this link to the 20-page booklet: https://boonechristianson.blogspot.com/2022/08/steps-booklet.html?m=1 And the 5 minute video version: https://youtu.be/T7l7D1ukw0c STEPS:Therapeutic Interaction Model You don’t know what to do when your partner or child has a reaction that seems totally disproportional to the situation. When you try to be rational, the person becomes…
If I had a penny for the amount of times I’ve read “Mom’s need to practice self care,” I would be a millionaire. Wouldn’t it be nice if it were that easy? Don’t get me wrong – the advice is absolutely correct. But so often, the way self-care is discussed or suggested simply seems unattainable….
Within all of us there is an inner child. The experiences you lived as a child shape the way that you approach and operate through your life now. The relationships you had with your parents, siblings and authority figures were all crucial to your sense of well-being. And ultimately all of those things had an…
Maybe you have experienced this before: you know the kind of work you tend to complete at the level that is standard for you, but for some reason you just aren’t making it to that point so easily, if at all. You want to be able to spend time with others outside of work, but…
This was originally published as a blog post on 2/20/2023 at NewCanvasMentalHealth.com Written By Melissa Stricklin, MA, LPCC Content advisory: This blog post does not contain any details about trauma. This blog post does contain some details of my PTSD symptoms and their impact on my life. This blog post does contain descriptions of me…
What is codependency? Codependency is a state where one partner relies excessively on the other for their physical, emotional, and mental comfort. The dependency becomes so severe that the co-dependent partner feels ignored when the other person seeks some time for themselves. There is often no acknowledgment of boundaries in the relationship, and this is…
“Never go to bed angry”It may come as a surprise that I’m not on board with this one because it’s so widely accepted and adopted as the rule-of-thumb for dealing with your partner mid-fight. Why it’s bad advice:You’re not at your problem-solving best when you’re tired and nighttime darkness just adds to the overall feeling…
There is a universal developmental phase in the life span of a person called Separation and Individuation. It can start as early as age 10 and can continue into the mid-20s. It’s a difficult time for children and parents because it is a very necessary point in a child’s life when they organically begin to try…