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Browse published articles attributed to Lauri Allison LaBadie, with full-archive search.
By this time, most of us have probably attended at least one wedding this summer. I went to one last weekend, and my dear friends Lauri and Jeff, the co-owners of TherapyLinx.com, will be tying the knot in just a few weeks. That got me to thinking how these happy, glowing effervescent brides’ ...
Over 25% of American women have been sexually abused as children and if untreated, suffer from the effects of the trauma into adulthood. The effects of sexual abuse may include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, nightmares, substance abuse, fear of intimacy, guilt, shame, promiscuity, ...
...and what you can do about it! Bill and Betty had been dating for over a year and had made plans to meet for dinner. Bill arrived on time and waited. Betty called 30 minutes later letting him know she’d be late. There seemed so much potential for a relationship with Betty; Bill was smitten ...
Just how does one measure the value of therapy? It’s tempting to think the results are “intangible,” like “I’m less depressed or anxious about things tha I used to be,” or “I’m getting along with my co-workers better now.” Here’s another one: “I feel better about myself than before.” But ...
Many people have done the tough work of recovery from sexual abuse, whether with help in therapy or on one’s own. It challenges us to the core, but it also frees us, and gives life and possibility where we once felt that we might never get through it. For some, getting into a relationship, or ...
In our high-speed society, there is a quick fix for everything. Our rational minds are sharp and facile. If we have a problem we find someone who knows how to fix it and we follow through—no problem. That may work for your computer. But emotional, spiritual and general problems of energy and ...
One of the great breakthrough discoveries of modern times was Freud’s discovery of the unconscious mind and the idea that much of what drives us is outside our awareness. He considered dreams to be “the royal road to the unconscious.” Unlike Freud, his colleague, C.G. Jung, thought the ...
Dreams are a source of inspiration and creativity that can lead us to a deeper understanding of who we are. They are a way for us to connect with hidden parts of ourselves that may not be easily accessible to us in our conscious, awakened states. Dreams may be explored on many levels, usually ...
Do you know these warning signs of problem drinking? Maybe you’re not sure if drinking is a problem in your family. Alcohol can be in our lives without it being a problem. But can you tell when it goes from “no problem” to “problem”? What’s the Cat in the Hat got to do with warning signs of ...
Dreams are a source of inspiration and creativity that can lead us to a deeper understanding of who we are. They are a way for us to connect with hidden parts of ourselves that may not be easily accessible to us in our conscious, awakened states. Dreams may be explored on many levels, usually ...
Many people have done the tough work of recovery from sexual abuse, whether with help in therapy or on one’s own. It challenges us to the core, but it also frees us, and gives life and possibility where we once felt that we might never get through it. For some, getting into a relationship, or ...
Dreams are a source of inspiration and creativity that can lead us to a deeper understanding of who we are. They are a way for us to connect with hidden parts of ourselves that may not be easily accessible to us in our conscious, awakened states. Dreams may be explored on many levels, usually ...
It’s tough to parent a pre-teen or teenager. Life can turn into an alphabet soup of controversy and conflict – MTV, SATs, STDs, JLo… GLBT? When sexual orientation and gender identity enters the picture, even many “open-minded” parents are thrown for a loop. Parents may start to wonder whether ...It’s tough to parent a pre-teen or teenager. Life can turn into an alphabet soup of controversy and conflict – MTV, SATs, STDs, JLo… GLBT? When sexual orientation and gender identity enters the picture, even many “open-minded” parents are thrown for a loop.
Hope springs ete al, and there’s nowhere that’s more true than a couple taking the leap of faith into a second marriage. To all those who dare to hope that their second marriage (or third, or fourth) will be better than the last, I say congratulations and good luck! It takes a lot of courage to ...
Anyone who’s been in a long term relationship will tell you there are rough periods, and most people, when they’re honest, will admit to doubts along the way. But sometimes we don’t know how to assess, “Just how bad is it?” Here’s a list of symptoms that suggest a relationship is in trouble. The ...
In cafés, restaurants and at the water cooler women complain that men don’t talk about their feelings. Admittedly, this is a stereotype.. Some women don’t talk and some men do. In any case, what do you do when your partner doesn’t talk? Some of the most difficult things to talk about are ...
Healing the impact of childhood abuse is a difficult yet hopeful process. If you were physically or sexually abused as a child, you may often feel fragmented, confused, vulnerable, and somewhat chaotic inside. You may have difficulty with trust and intimacy in your relationships, and your ...
The mischievous son with an incredible knack for trouble who seems to delight in torturing his sister… The mildly deceptive daughter who takes great satisfaction in taking tattling to the extreme… Every time you try to help – the truth gets twisted, fingers are pointed, and the fighting ...
Many people remember learning to drive a car and hearing someone instruct, “When you change lanes, check your side-view and rear mirrors, then turn and look over your shoulder to make sure that there is not a car in your “blind spot”. Every human eye has a “blind spot”. Where our optic nerve ...
(And even those just questioning) Fortunately, the role of therapy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons (sexual minorities) has undergone a nrevolution in modern times. In the past, persons from sexual minorities were suspicious of therapists - and for good nreason! Often, the ...
From the threat of lay-off to balancing work and family life, today’s work-related problems are increasingly complicated and stressful. Job-related stresses frequently lead to a great deal of frustration and discontentment. Fortunately, there are many ways you can create a more enjoyable work ...
When a couple decides their marriage is over, a tremendous sense of grief and relief are felt. A recently divorced person will feel grief over the loss of their marriage and the loss of their partner in life. But there is also a sense of relief that the pain and anguish is now over and their ...
In our current culture, so much “doing” and outer accomplishment is expected of us, that many people feel they have lost touch with any source or spark that once kept them going. We have become all too efficient in our technological world, and must learn again how to nurture and encourage the ...
Although all of us would like to feel content and fulfilled all of the time, many people suffer with emotional difficulties that interfere with enjoying a positive and productive life. Problems are often life-long, self-defeating patterns developed in childhood. These patterns create many ...
Maybe you’re not sure if drinking is a problem in your family. Alcohol can be in our lives without it being a problem. But can you tell when it goes from “no problem” to “problem”? What’s the Cat in the Hat got to do with warning signs of problem drinking? I remember when the ‘Cat in the Hat’ ...
When a marriage ends, the greatest challenge parents face is minimizing the trauma, hurt, and loss for their children. Through positive parenting, adults have the power to help their children adjust to this major change. Healthy parenting also brings rewards to the adults as they get to feel ...
Self-knowledge, shaped by life experience, refined by decent intentions, and applied thoughtfully, builds inner trust - a prerequisite for mutual trust. Solo ventures, such as mountain travel by foot comprise a category requiring trust in the accuracy of one’s judgement, to safeguard life and ...
Do you know the levels of risk with problem drinking? Is it hard for you to tell when risky behavior becomes a problem? They say that if you place a frog in a pot of water and begin to heat the pot, the frog will boil to death without even realizing it. Conversely, if you throw a frog into a ...
Many people remember learning to drive a car and hearing someone instruct, “When you change lanes, check your side-view and rear mirrors, then turn and look over your shoulder to make sure that there is not a car in your “blind spot”. Every human eye has a “blind spot”. Where our optic nerve ...
How will I know if I’m bipolar? You’ll know by your moods and behaviors. Bipolar Disorder used to be called manic depression. Now it’s called Bipolar I and Bipolar II. When you have a Bipolar I Disorder you will have manic episodes where you have lots of energy, talk fast, have ...
Conflict is present in all intimate relationships. Whether conflict is resolved constructively or acted out destructively is what determines its impact on the relationship. The following suggestions are designed to help couples resolve conflict by teaching them how to fight fairly. • ...
It’s difficult to think about seeing a counselor. We ask ourselves, “Shouldn’t I be able to solve my own problems? Is my problem too small to bother [someone else] with? Is it too big—is there help or hope for it? For me? This is embarrassing! What happens in counseling? How can I know it will ...
Compulsive overeaters are individuals who suffer from an obsession with food and a compulsion to eat despite the resulting negative effects on their physical and emotional health and well being. They eat to satisfy an emotional hunger, whether this hunger is for love, for comfort or for a sense ...
Is it hard for you to tell when risky behavior becomes a problem? They say that if you place a frog in a pot of water and begin to heat the pot, the frog will boil to death without even realizing it. Conversely, if you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water, the frog will make a quick exit. ...
Solution- focused therapists understand that many clients come to their office expecting (and sometimes dreading) to have to tell the whole story of their problem, with a detailed history of why they are the way they are and how they’ve gotten themselves into such a predicament. A solution- ...
For women in a state of well-being, a balance exists between the feminine and masculine aspects of our psyche that is not dictated by gender. Our feminine nature allows us to experience our creativity and intuition, and gives us our ability to nurture. Our masculine side enables us to manifest ...
Recently a young woman came into counseling complaining of sleeplessness and anxiety. She described having an upsurge of deeply upsetting memories of a terrible incident that occurred when she was seventeen years old. She had been raped by an “acquaintance” on a date. She never told anyone what ...
Intimate relationships offer great potential for connection, personal growth and healing. Yet many people find that although successful in their careers and are able to maintain close friendships, they struggle in intimate relationships. Often these relationships aren’t working because the same ...
Healing the impact of childhood abuse is a difficult yet hopeful process. If you were physically or sexually abused as a child, you may often feel fragmented, confused, vulnerable, and somewhat chaotic inside. You may have difficulty with trust and intimacy in your relationships, and your ...
Many first-time mothers are baffled when they find their new life with baby doesn’t match up to the myths of motherhood. We are led to believe that having a baby should be a glorious, magical time. We are taught not only that we will but that we must bond immediately with our babies. We believe ...
Carl Jung, Freud’s protégé gone esoteric, glorified the passage into the menopausal years as a transformation into the “Crone”, the “Wise Old Woman”. An archetypal (universal) element in fairy and folk tales, the Crone, freed of the bonds of childrearing, now had access to a deeper spiritual ...
Depression is experienced by a lot of us. Sometimes it’s situational (job lay off), sometimes it’s related to past issues (e.g. childhood) and for others it’s hereditary. When you have situational depression something unexpected has happened over which you feel you have no control, i.e. death ...
We’re all grownups here, right? How hard can it be to be a functional adult? Then why do we struggle so? Depression and anxiety disorders are epidemic in our society. Stress-related health problems threaten the quality and span of our lives. Alcoholism and drug addiction touch many of our lives ...
Intimate relationships offer great potential for connection, personal growth and healing. Yet many people find that although successful in their careers and are able to maintain close friendships, they struggle in intimate relationships. Often these relationships aren’t working because the same ...
Find Places of Healing. Discover people, things, and places that nourish your soul, bring you back to center, help you heal. Life is not an endurance contest. Not anymore. We are not in a race to see how long we can go without, how much we can go without, how much pain we can stay in. Although ...
It’s tough to parent a pre-teen or teenager. Life can turn into an alphabet soup of controversy and conflict – MTV, SATs, STDs, JLo… GLBT? When sexual orientation and gender identity enters the picture, even many “open-minded” parents are thrown for a loop. Parents may start to wonder whether ...
We’re all grownups here, right? How hard can it be to be a functional adult? Then why do we struggle so? Depression and anxiety disorders are epidemic in our society. Stress-related health problems threaten the quality and span of our lives. Alcoholism and drug addiction touch many of our lives ...