This blog is written by the clinicians at Jonah Green and Associates, a mental health practice based in Kensington, MD that provides quality services for children, teens, families, and adults. It is intended as a resource for families who are seeking to expand their knowledge about mental health and mental health services, and also as a resource for families who are seeking quality mental health services, especially in the mid-Atlantic region.
Therapists, workshops, and “how-to” guides offer plenty of sound advice for improving communication: use I rather than you statements (“I feel hurt” instead of “You’re so mean”), empathize with the other’s perspective, mirror their words, be specific rather than global (“I wish you’d call when you’re late” instead of “You never think of me”), and
Slipping through my fingers all the time Do I really see what’s in her mind? Each time I think I’m close to knowing. She keeps on growing. — ABBA, Slipping Through My Fingers Many parents and adult children find that their once-close relationships can become distant or even severed—sometimes gradually, and sometimes after a crisis.
I’ve never believed that it is essential to do everything one can to save every romantic relationship. Some are chapters, not lifetimes — and that’s okay. I remember knowing, even while I was still in it, that my college sweetheart and I weren’t going to grow old together. We loved each other, but we didn’t
“He’s my brother.” Exploring the value of sibling therapy for healing, reconnection, and navigating family transitions. The road is long / / But I’m strong / Strong enough to carry him/ He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother. —The Hollies, 1969 When adult siblings enter therapy together, they carry not only active concerns, but also a
Many religious and philosophical traditions speak to the value of forgiveness, and research shows that forgiveness can bring lower anxiety, less depression, more fulfilling relationships, and even improved physical health. Our natural tendency to focus on justice for those who wronged us, however, can block forgiveness. When others deeply hurt us, our minds may focus