What Is Inner Child Work? Reparenting Yourself for Better Well-Being
In inner child work, the patient learns to talk their own inner child through painful childhood memories and harmful core beliefs with kindness and compassion. …
What Is Oxytocin? The Love Hormone, Explained
Oxytocin is a hormone that can make us feel good around other people, but its effects are complicated. It’s involved in love, sex, social bonding, and more.…
Codependency in Relationships: Meaning, Signs, Stages, and More
Codependency in relationships feels like you’re lose yourself serving the needs of others. It’s incredibly common, but can be hard to detect when you’re in it.…
What Is a Backhanded Compliment? Definition and Basics
A backhanded compliment is a way for the compliment giver to seem nice to the receiver but also subtly undercut them. There’s always an insult buried in it.…
5 Signs of a Backhanded Compliment and How to Respond
A backhanded compliment can include a comparison to a negative standard, false positivity, and not-so-kind intentions. It can leave you feeling bad or weird.…
What Is Gaslighting? Examples and How to Protect Yourself
Gaslighting is emotional abuse that manipulates someone into questioning their reality, memory or perceptions. It can lead to a reliance on the gaslighter.…
Love vs. Codependency: How to Trust Yourself
It can be hard to tell a healthy loving relationship apart from codependency, especially if you’re trying to avoid harmful old patterns. Here’s what to know.…
How to Break the Cycle of Generational Trauma: Expert Q&A
You can short-circuit generational trauma so it doesn’t run your life or pass on to your kids, but it requires a lot of courage, self-reflection, and work.…
Codependency vs. Interdependency, and How to Make Healthier Connections
Learn how to shift from a codependent to an interdependent relationship through open communication, setting boundaries, and possibly therapy.…
Why Talking to Strangers and Meeting New People Is Scary, and How to Do It Anyway
Starting a conversation with a stranger “in the wild” can be overwhelming. Expert Alaina Provenzano, LCSW, recommends a mindset and a few baby steps to try.…