How to Build Your Self-Confidence Usually when we hear about low self-esteem or lack of self-confidence, we also hear that it is a problem. People are encouraged to work on themselves to feel more confident, and there are many situations in which this is important and useful. But there are some advantages to having a…
You Were Taught to Abandon Yourself to Be Loved Healing Self-Abandonment: The Price of Connection and Belonging Abandon Yourself. Do you consistently prioritize others’ needs, opinions, or comfort over your own? Perhaps you automatically set aside your preferences when they differ from someone else’s, doubt your perceptions when they conflict with another’s view, or feel…
Healthy Self-Esteem in Children The foundation of a child’s self-esteem is built through a delicate balance of emotional attunement, sensitive communication, and consistent boundaries. 1. Authentic ConnectionChildren develop a sense of self-worth through interactions with caregivers. Establishing an authentic connection with your child involves being present and genuinely involved in moments of interaction. Active listening…
Loving Yourself Loving yourself is not always an easy task. In a world where we are often judged and criticized, it can be challenging to find self-love. However, it is crucial to prioritize self-love because it affects all aspects of our lives. Achieving self-love requires conscious effort, patience, and understanding. Psychological Problems That Result From…
Self-compassion Self-compassion is a key aspect of healing from trauma, according to Gabor Mate, a renowned psychotherapist, author, and expert on trauma and addiction. Trauma can manifest in a variety of ways, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other mental and physical health issues. When we experience trauma, our nervous system speeds up, and…
Setting Boundaries and Taking Care of Yourself Setting margins with other people is an important aspect of our emotional and psychological health. Boundaries are boundaries that we set to define our needs, values, and boundaries that others will not cross. Setting this can be difficult, but they are essential for building healthy relationships. Setting margins…
Fear of Your Own Anger. Few emotions generate as much internal conflict as anger. While some struggle to contain angry outbursts, many others experience profound fear of their own anger—avoiding it, suppressing it, or becoming anxious when they feel its stirrings. From a Gestalt therapy and Somatic Experiencing perspective, this fear of anger often indicates…
Somatic Exercises. The fast-paced, often overstimulating nature of modern life frequently triggers our stress response systems, leaving many people in states of persistent physiological activation or shutdown. As a Gestalt therapist and Somatic Experiencing practitioner, I’ve observed how directly engaging the body—rather than relying solely on cognitive approaches—offers powerful pathways for restoring balance to dysregulated…
Mania, typically understood as a clinical symptom of bipolar disorder or related conditions, represents one of the most complex and paradoxical expressions of human psychology. While conventional medical perspectives often approach mania primarily as a neurochemical imbalance requiring medication, a deeper psychological and somatic understanding reveals that manic states frequently embody a profound dialectic between…
How to Find the Strength to Say NO! Say NO – The simple word “no” carries remarkable power. For many people, however, using this power effectively remains one of life’s greatest challenges. The inability to say no—to unreasonable requests, invasive behaviors, or activities that don’t align with our values—creates patterns of overcommitment, resentment, and…