WHY RELATIONSHIP CUTOFF DOESN’T WORK. There is a concept in Family Systems Theory called Emotional Cutoff (Murray Bowen’s Eight Concepts) which describes the way people manage unresolved family issues by reducing contact with one or more members or totally cutting off emotional contact with them. To manage overwhelming stress and tension in families, people look for ways to make interactions “easier” by using emotional cutoff. There are several ways this can play out including: avoiding …
The Reason Why Competition Can Feel Icky. My clients often talk about the culture of competition at work. The pressure to “get ahead” often leads to a practice of negatively comparing oneself to others. They also say they find themselves exerting an undesirable amount of effort trying to be like someone else. When I was a teen, I had a close friend who seemed to always want to compete with me in every way; sports, …
Grieving. One Of The Only Things You Can Do When You Experience Loss. I know exactly who you are when you walk into my office. Your body language and forced smiles are a perfect match to the grieving person I spoke to on the phone. Getting started in session can be difficult because you’re not sure where to begin to describe how you are feeling. With support, you begin by telling me that for the …
