Author: Sylvia

Sylvia Flanagan, MFT gives a good reminder why it’s important to practice self care during one of the most stressful times of the year.

Sylvia Flanagan, MFT discusses common stressors specific to the holiday season and offers suggestions on how to cope with and prevent them.

Get to know Aubree Papaj, MS through my interview with her. Aubree is an experienced MFT intern and sees individual, couples and also offers groups. She is affordable and has daytime and evening appointments available.

Sylvia answers an anonymous blog reader’s question about whether it’s better to stay or go when it comes to an abusive family.

Avoiding emotional vulnerability is a way of rejecting one’s self before another person has the opportunity to do it.

Many clients who have been on the other side of infidelity question whether to go or stay in the relationship. Here are a few questions to consider.

The desire for change is a challenge we all share at one point or another whether it relates to habits, lifestyle, health, mood or relationships.

Sylvia Flanagan, MFT answers many questions people have when considering the possibility of starting up couples counseling.

Here at the office of Sylvia Flanagan, MFT, there is a great new therapist addition! Aubree Papaj, IMF has come on board and is

Having been a San Diego therapist for over 10 years now, I have encountered many people who are single and simultaneously feeling very

After having the domain parked since last summer, my new San Diego Premarital Counseling sister site is up and launched!

Keep it Fun and Keep it New! Whether you’re going out for the first time, newly dating or have been together for a long while, it’s always wise to keep things fun with a good date. Below are some ideas to help keep things fresh. Go through the list below. If you do them all, […]

Grieving and depression are related but quite different.  While grieving is a normal and healthy response of sadness to loss and change, depression is usually a symptom indicating something is misaligned in our lives and needs to be corrected. Our culture often wants to tuck feelings of sadness away and regards them as unhealthy or […]

New Year’s resolutions are commonplace, but their success is not.  The vast majority of people don’t achieve their resolution for the New Year.  How come?  Success may hinge between what you want and what you understand and are ready to tackle.  For example, the most common New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight and to […]

Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous new year!  Hope you are enjoying the season with people you care about and creating some good memories to cherish.  See you next year!

Taming the Holiday Stress Beast! The holidays are a time of year when many people are stressed and overwhelmed.  Feeling over-extended, over-obligated and stretched thin all contribute to anxiety and this can put a real damper on the holidays.  Family and work obligations, parties, shopping, cooking and all the holiday odds and ends can leave […]

What’s the Difference between Guilt and Shame? I see many clients who have carried longstanding feelings of shame which end up fostering low self esteem and confidence.  I believe guilt can be a healthy guide but shame rarely produces a positive outcome.  So, what’s the difference?  In a nutshell, guilt is the feeling that “I […]

Words Can Quickly Damage Do you often say things out of frustration or anger you later regret leading to more conflict in need of unraveling? Basically, this is a good time for a “coping skill”! As cliche’ as that term sounds, the concept is vital. None of us are immune to our emotions getting the […]

Why Go to Premarital Counseling? As a relationship therapist in San Diego, I receive a lot of inquiries about premarital counseling so I thought a blog post on the subject would be helpful.  I believe premarital/precommitment counseling is very important because it highlights areas in the relationship that will likely become a source of disagreement […]

A blog reader asks, “How can I stop getting so easily offended over small things people do or say to me?” Well, the answer I give may not be the answer wanted! Actually, I want people to feel offended over rude, uncaring or offensive acts by others… even if small. With that said, though, it’s […]

For some, the holidays are eagerly anticipated and for others, they are dreaded.  Spending time with certain family members is a very common reason some people do not enjoy the holiday season.  Whether you are single, married, or partnered, if family represents a problem for you over the holidays, then the following article is for […]

In the past, there was a stigma attached to seeking therapy. Depending upon one’s generation or beliefs, counseling was thought to be for those who were mentally ill or those who were weak in character. Luckily, times have changed. A Resource For a Variety of People and Issues The majority of people who seek out […]

What’s the Difference? Knowing whether you’re an introvert or extrovert not only helps  you better understand yourself, but can help you navigate relationships more effectively and save yourself some frustration regarding where you “fit in”. Introverts are often misunderstood and labeled as “shy” or “insecure”.  Introverts can appear shy around certain people because they are […]

A blog reader asks the question, “The past two years have been really tough. My dad fell and that was the beginning of the end for him. I’ve been there for both my parents the entire time and now that he’s gone it’s tough to handle the loss. I feel like I need a break, […]