• Overcoming Fear to Build Healthy, Open Relationships

    Feelings and beliefs that are based on fear create distance and conflict in relationships. Understanding why we are afraid to talk openly and how to overcome those fears is essential to establishing a healthy relationship. Restricted communication in relationships is as influential on intimacy as what partnrrs express to each other. It can be anxiety-producing…

  • Effective Listening Requires Hearing Feelings and Intentions

    Effective listening involves more than just hearing words being spoken. It means hearing feelings, intentions, and content. It means wanting to understand what is being said and being able to respond appropriately and accurately. Effective communication involves both talking and listening in a way that makes our thoughts, feelings, wants, needs, and opinions conveyed clearly…

  • How Poor Fathering Impacts Sons’ Masculinity and Self-Esteem

    Weak, uninvolved, or abusive fathering has a profoundly negative affect on a son’s perception of his masculinity, relationship to women, career identity, and self-esteem. Inadequate, insecure fathers compete with their sons instead of helping them. Inadequate fathers engage in conversations that judge, criticize, and discourage their sons. Narcissistic fathers are demanding and inflict rigid expectations.…

  • Puzzle vs. Maze: Rethinking Autism Awareness Logo

    The autism awareness movement’s logo is an incomplete puzzle needing a piece to complete it. However, a new image representing autism, a maze, has emerged and more closely represents the reality of the experience of autism. The neurodiversity movement disagrees with the narrative that something is missing or wrong with them. This idea implies there…

  • Why Special Needs Trusts Are Vital for Autistic Children

      Leaving a substantial trust fund for an autistic child elevates the quality of their long-term care. Parents should prioritize securing a robust special needs trust for their adult autistic child over their self-interests. Unforeseen challenges can occur in the life of a special needs person that may result in excessive costs. Having substantial funds…

  • Why Avoiding Conflict Harms Intimacy and Connection

    Couples who avoid conflict experience impaired intimacy, build resentments, and become disconnected from each other. Conflict leads to the experience of heightened emotions, which facilitates motivation to communicate and resolve problems. Engaging honestly and passionately about feelings, wants, needs, and ideas leads to conflict resolution. At the moment, deciding to let an issue go unaddressed…

  • How Fathers’ Roles Affect Marriages with Autistic Children

    Having an autistic child breaks up a high percentage of marriages. Several styles of a father’s reaction to the situation are often a major cause. Fathers are equally capable of proficient parenting and advocacy; however, men disproportionately decide not to assume the lead role. There are four common roles that fathers assume that strain or…

  • Millennials Push Back Against Racism, Violence, and Decline

    Millennials are mistakenly being viewed as apathetic. In truth, they have felt traumatized and powerless during these chaotic times of surging racism, anti-democratic politics, gun violence, and the high cost of living. However, millennials are now talking amongst themselves about how they will reverse what they see as the dangerous decline of their country. With…

  • Understanding and Overcoming the Triggers of Social Anxiety

    Social anxiety can be paralyzing. Some people suffer from social anxieties due to childhood trauma, low self-esteem, or peer pressure. Social situations can trigger fears of rejection, humiliation, and stress. Shyness also causes anxiety by triggering comparison to others and fear of failure at succeeding at social expectations. Physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, becoming speechless,…

  • How Money Differences Can Break Relationships

    The differences in how couples communicate about, manage, and feel about money can irreparably damage a relationship. Money represents different things to people. It can define one’s self-worth and sense of success. It also can symbolize power, control, security, attractiveness or freedom. The conditions surrounding finances in our families influences how we feel about and…