Family

I want to acknowledge how difficult this family dynamic is. This situation stirs up complicated emotions, and it’s easy to get trapped in these harmful relationship patterns with your mother. You might also have family members or friends offering their opinions on what you should do. Let’s cut through that…

For as long as you can remember, your mom has told you everything—maybe sometimes too much. If she and your dad fought, you were the first to know. You knew about her work stress and money troubles before you even knew what a mortgage was. Lines between “child” and “peer”…

She texted you three times today: once to ask if you’d seen her Tupperware, once to forward an article about gut health, and once to tell you that your cousin’s daughter made the varsity basketball team. Now you’re sitting in your car, irrationally furious, wondering why a text about someone…

Does your mom depend on you for her emotional well-being? Does your partner prioritize a parent’s needs over yours—or your kids’? Do you feel like your parent’s expectations dictate your decisions—or that you’re “letting them down” when you do things your way? If any of this sounds familiar, you might…

Most families who come to therapy have already tried fixing the problem. Someone went to individual therapy. Everyone read articles about better communication. You promised to try harder. But somehow, you keep ending up in the same patterns. That’s because individual change often can’t shift family dynamics. Family systems therapy…

Sometimes, a relationship with a parent reaches a breaking point. Maybe your mom just doesn’t seem to hear you, no matter how many times you try to explain. Maybe your dad’s constant political remarks leave you feeling frustrated or unheard every time you talk. Or perhaps you’ve tried to open…

You’re driving to your parents’ house for the holidays, and that familiar knot tightens in your stomach. You’ve been a successful adult for years—you have your own life, your own family, your own rules. But somehow, the second you walk through their door, you’re 14 again, bracing for criticism. A…

Feeling angry or resentful toward family members is a common experience that can arise from various psychological, emotional, and situational factors. Whether it’s a parent, sibling, or extended relative, conflicts within families can make maintaining harmonious relationships challenging and stressful. The good news? There are strategies to navigate relationships with…

Young children show the effects of trauma in many ways. They may seem anxious, sad, afraid, act out, become aggressive, or even shut down emotionally. When difficult situations break or stress the all-important bond between children and parents, the symptoms of trauma can persist or worsen.  Children need to know…

Many people have close relationships with their parents — in fact, some consider their mother or father their best friend. But that isn’t always the case.  There’s a less fortunate narrative: Some people hate their parents. They don’t just lack that connection or disagree with their parents from time to…

The holiday season is a time to make merry, reconnect with family and friends, and find something to be grateful for. But if you’re feeling like the holidays actually stress you out more than other parts of the year, you aren’t alone. With tight budgets that flex to handle dinners,…

As much as we might try, no family is without its share of problems. But for teens who are particularly vulnerable to mistreatment as minors, or who may feel resentful and rebellious as they form their own identities in adolescence, it’s normal to wonder, “Do my parents hate me?” The…