Weaponized incompetence: Is this subtle manipulation tactic hurting your relationship? by Alisa Hrustic | May 16, 2025 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships Picture a couple who just moved in together: Let’s call them Dan and Amy. Amy has been working late because she has a big presentation coming up. One evening, she texts Dan and asks him to make dinner while she’s on her way home. Dan enthusiastically agrees, sending multiple heart…
I’m a people pleaser. How can I set boundaries without feeling guilty? by Theresa Lupcho, LPC | Mar 25, 2025 | Ask a Therapist, Communication, Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Self-Care Boundaries are a popular topic right now, especially on social media. But if you consider yourself a people pleaser, you might find it stressful—if not impossible—to set them. I’m here to convince you that setting healthy boundaries is worth the effort, both for your own well-being and your ability to…
“I hate my mom — is that normal?” Common reasons for strained mother/child relationships, and what to do by Theresa Lupcho, LPC | Mar 15, 2024 | Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Mental Health Topics Navigating relationships with parents can be complex and challenging, especially with so many deep, intense feelings involved. Not every mother/child relationship is loving and understanding, and sometimes an understanding can’t be reached, for one reason or another. With all the history between mothers and their children, it can be hard…
Is it okay to cut off family members with toxic traits? by Jason Crosby | May 27, 2022 | Family, Mental Health Topics Q: I love my sister, but sometimes we get into the worst arguments over her behavior. It’s not that I try to get into these debates, but she always seems so ungrateful anytime I do something nice for her, and when I point this out, she denies it. Whether it’s…
A comprehensive guide to family therapy: Different approaches, how it can help, and when to schedule a session by Wistar Murray | Dec 13, 2021 | Beginning Therapy, Family, Mental Health Topics Family bonds are rich, complex, profound – and sometimes painful. Family can both build us up and break us down. But in its ideal state, a family is the crucible in which we can become our best and truest selves. That’s where family therapy can help. Licensed family therapists at…