Befriending your inner critic through Internal Family Systems Therapy so it can support your creative expression

Looking at how IFS concepts can aid in understanding and embracing the complexity of one's desires and fantasies within the realm of kink.

When I work with clients around communication, I like to teach the difference between reacting and responding. Learning the difference between the two can be a vital component of a more healthy, functional relationship (whether it’s romantic or sexual relationships, family relationships, friendships, or even working relationships).

There are a multitude of ways that we communicate with each other. Some of them make us feel loved and respected, some we don’t think about, and some leave us feeling disconnected, confused, and angry. Today, we’ll discuss four modes of unhealthy communication, and how to fix them. These modes of communication are also known as The Four Horsemen of a Relationship, conceptualized by Drs. Julie and John Gottman, expert relationship researchers and therapists.

Core shame, however, is attached to our fundamental understanding of ourselves. These are the messages that we’ve internalized about ourselves that result in us feeling like we are not enough. Core shame leads to us being disconnected from ourselves and others due to the internalization of being unworthy of love, belonging, and acceptance.

It refers to a psychological and emotional framework that describes how individuals form and maintain relationships with others, particularly in the context of close interpersonal connections like romantic partners, family members, or close friends.

Grief is an inescapable part of the human experience, a complex web of emotions that envelops us when we lose someone or something significant in our lives. Whether it's the death of a loved one, the end of a cherished relationship, the loss of a job, or the fading of a dream, grief can cast a profound shadow upon our lives.