Category: Blog

Deciding to go to therapy is a huge decision, and finding the right therapist can be a daunting task if you’re not sure how to go about it. I’m a licensed therapist in San Diego, serving clients throughout California, and have been practicing for 23 years. I hope my experience and knowledge help make the […]

Excuses. We all make them. Some people more than others. Making excuses is a slippery slope and if you’re not aware of them and the impact they have you’re liable to resort to them regularly. It’ll just be part of how you respond when someone else calls you out on poor behavior. By the time […]

Relationships are difficult. Romantic relationships take effort, consistency, and flexibility. Good friendships can even be difficult when circumstances don’t cooperate. It’s easy to fall in love and easy enough to meet people you like but it’s a different story to stay in love or maintain that friendship. It’s also hard to cultivate a strong and […]

Today I’m going to talk about toxic positivity. And you may have heard that phrase before. There’s a lot of focus on positivity and motivation out there right now, and that’s really good. I do the same thing in this podcast.

Why is change so hard and why do so many of us take on goals and challenges only to walk away from them? On today’s episode I take a deeper dive into the process of change and what you need to know about yourself and the journey so you can continue moving closer to your […]

Today I’m going to talk about keystone habits. I’ll discuss what they are, why they’re important and how they can be the cornerstone for your new start. Habits don’t come easily but they’re definitely attainable. Explore how these habits set the tone of your whole day and how you can gain insight to attain more […]

It’s a bit astonishing that only 8% of people who make a New Year’s resolution will stick to it and achieve their goal. In fact, the second Friday in January has been coined “Quitters Day” because approximately 80% of people will have ditched their resolutions by then. While nobody can manufacture will-power for others, everyone […]

The benefits of individual therapy are often sizable when someone finds a good therapist who stretches them out of their comfort zone to do challenging therapeutic work. An experienced therapist who you’re comfortable with can challenge, support, and motivate you to improve your life and effectively navigate difficult transitions. Improvements in one area of life […]

Giving thanks is a habitual custom around the time of Thanksgiving. Many of us blend or overshadow “giving thanks” with an opportunity for good food, a couple of days off work, and time well spent with family and friends. But “giving thanks” can be much more powerful than a once-a-year holiday comprised of over-eating, rest, […]

Fall is a joyful time for many as the seasonal holidays approach but for some it’s a time of year leading to loneliness, stress, anxiety, sadness or depression. Some people become overwhelmed and feel stretched thin with holiday obligations while others feel alone and adrift as if they’re watching the holidays go by without feeling […]

It’s a familiar and unfortunate dynamic I often see in couples counseling. One person is desperately trying to engage their partner to communicate and the other shuts down and won’t talk. It’s an obvious stalemate and no relationship can successfully endure this pattern for long. Why does my partner do this? How can I get […]

All couples disagree in one way or another in their relationship. The conflicts may vary; some may be small, large, or recurring; whichever the case, it is important to explore and work on them for the relationship to continue thriving. The best solution is to visit couples therapy sessions to help sort out your issues.

Marriage is not always easy and involves navigating life’s ups and downs and personal struggles while maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner. Falling in love and getting married can be relatively simple, but maintaining a strong marriage is often challenging. Commitment and healthy communication are two traits that help yield a happy marriage, but […]

Before getting married, it’s good to consider premarital counseling. Counseling aids you in better understanding your spouse and working through issues before moving forward with marriage. Below, I look at finding the best premarital counselor in San Diego and how your relationship can benefit by investing in it.

Sometimes, you may find yourself coming up short on coping while facing life’s challenges and demands. When this happens, you might decide to seek the support of a therapist. A seasoned and smart therapist can help you change your behavioral patterns, navigate life transitions, effectively handle relationship problems, self-esteem issues, and symptoms such as anxiety […]

If you’re engaged and wondering about premarital counseling, San Diego offers many opportunities to explore this form of counseling. It is an excellent way to increase understanding of each other and can help improve communication skills and solidify a solid foundation for a healthy marriage. These trust-building and relationship enhancing sessions can be extremely valuable.

We are in a strange time and all of us are effected to some degree. Many are feeling unsettled, worried and concerned

Sylvia Flanagan, LMFT discusses the importance of examining motives behind goals and values in order to remain authentic and truthful to self and others.

Emotional abuse is often minimized because it doesn’t involve physical abuse but the damaging effects are anything but small.

Difficult family members are not so unusual, but knowing how to navigate them is. This blog post gives suggestions on how to manage unhealthy family dynamics.

Facing Uncertainty, Depression and Fear with Intention One of the toughest things to bring into being is action while facing uncertainty.  The ability to do so defines much of what we call discipline.  For some, it appears to come quite naturally while others struggle greatly.  A few appear unfazed and uncaring about what they could […]

Affordable online counseling now available. This blog post helps answers most frequently asked questions.

Truth telling is fraught with responsibility, will hurt some, acknowledges our limitations and inefficiencies, but is integral to life’s meaning and purpose.

Loss and struggle, while difficult to traverse, is also the ground for growth, transformation and a life filled with more meaning and purpose. Sometimes just knowing there’s something waiting for us on the other side can make the journey more bearable.