deep breathing isn't working to treat addiction
Managing emotions

Addiction isn’t About Genes, It’s About Shame: How to Re-Understand Addiction with Psychoanalysis

You’re wondering why you or a loved one struggles with addiction. Usually a quick internet search gives two tidy yet disappointing answers: (1) It’s genetic, or (2) it’s self-destructive behavior. But you know from experience addiction is much more complex. This article explores how addiction can arise from shame. We’ll

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pre-adoption psychological evaluation
Testing and Assessment

Pre-Adoption Psychological Evaluation Checklist: 7 Tips for a Quick and Easy Adoption Assessment

Adopting a child is an exciting yet complex journey, and one key step for many prospective parents is the pre-adoption psychological evaluation – also commonly known as an adoption psychological evaluation. This process helps ensure you’re emotionally and mentally ready for the responsibilities of parenthood, especially in cases like international

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Managing emotions

Why That Toxic Relationship is Created by the Pain You’re Trying to Avoid (And How to Break Free)

Certain relationships feel like a rerun of old wounds. Maybe it’s a partner whose constant criticism makes you feel small, just like a judgmental parent did in childhood. Or perhaps their helplessness leaves you frustrated and overburdened, echoing the abandonment from an unreliable caregiver. These “toxic” relationships aren’t accidents—they’re born

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Pasadena couples therapy
Healthy Relationships, Managing emotions

Addiction Impacting your Relationship? How to Talk with Your Partner about Couples Therapy

Addiction—to pornography, gambling, or alcohol—casts a long shadow over relationships, often fracturing trust, draining finances, and eroding emotional intimacy. We’ll address pressing questions partners often ask: How Addiction Impacts Couples The following stories, pulled from Reddit posts, offer a glimpse into the pain and complexity of loving someone with an

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