I’ve told him that I don’t want to talk to him, but he won’t leave me alone.
I feel like I am stuck in a fight I don’t want to have.
I feel betrayed and angry that he kept this from me for so many years.
I don’t want to burden her when she’s going through such a difficult time, but I need to talk to her about my grief.
Being truly supportive of someone who is in pain requires strength, patience, self-knowledge, and discipline, “Dear Therapist” writes.
Tough conversations provide opportunities for pain and conflict, but also for growth and healing, “Dear Therapist” writes.
Loss often feels utterly isolating, but seeking out connection and support can help you find a way forward, “Dear Therapist” writes.
Parent-child relationships are constantly evolving, and as children grow, “Dear Therapist” writes, parents have to recalibrate what their role is.
In some cases, “Dear Therapist” columns help us understand a situation from another person’s point of view; in others, they give us the language we need to name a situation.
Moving forward doesn’t mean leaving the past behind—it means figuring out how to make sense of it in the present.
Talking honestly and openly won’t necessarily save a troubled relationship, but doing so can clarify whether one can and should be saved.
Change can bring on a mixture of feelings; compassion is how you navigate them.
I was not there for his last breaths. I was not there for his last words. I’m trying to combat my guilt.
Every holiday season, my siblings and I divide our time between them.
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
They’re both angry at me, and I want to mend our relationship.
How can I be open and honest with him when he doesn’t know who I am?
They’re many years old, but they’ve totally upended my world.
They are judging me for not being a good mom, for not having a job, and for not losing my pregnancy weight fast enough.
I’m getting married, and I want her to be a part of my life.