relationships

Is There a Path to Healing and Wholeness Following an Unhealthy Partnership?

Is There a Path to Healing and Wholeness Following an Unhealthy Partnership?

Many of us either have or will, unfortunately, experience unhealthy partnerships in our lifetimes. Research studies have showcased that 33% of young adults are likely to experience an abusive or unhealthy relationship (Davis, 2008), and up to 80% of individuals nationwide ultimately encounter emotional abuse in a personal relationship (Carney & Barner, 2012). Unhealthy connections cannot only lead to serious short and long-term complications physically (I.e., heart disease, headaches, eating disorders), mentally (i.e., anxiety, depression), and emotionally (i.e., low self-esteem, self-worth, social withdrawal) but show up in multiple arenas amongst friends, family, coworkers, bosses, and romantic couples.

Co-Parenting: Twists and Turns

Co-Parenting: Twists and Turns

Roughly half of American children will experience parental divorce, and about 25% will experience one or both parents' second marriages. Co-parenting after divorce can be challenging when there are hurt feelings and stressors related to custody and finances. It is important to remain supportive through the process; this can look like 1-advocating for the best interest of your child(ren), 2-sharing child care, 3-managing child conflict, and 4-being supportive towards each other as parents. Being successful in co-parenting requires respect, negotiation, compassion, and validation from each.

Growing Together: Friendship Gifts, Griefs, and Grace

Growing Together: Friendship Gifts, Griefs, and Grace

When I was 19, I met a girl through a mutual friend. She was funny, exuded confidence, and said and did whatever she wanted to. She and I were both tentative with each other. We circled cautiously but eventually found ourselves laughing hysterically at the same things. This would be the beginning of an almost 30-year friendship. This friendship would sometimes be tumultuous, yet it is the most loyal relationship I've ever had—the longest outside of my family. Our relationship even surpassed my marriage. However, there have been hurtful moments along the way. Some were petty, some we were not sure we'd recover from, some we had to take breaks from each other, and some brought us closer than we ever thought we could be. For lack of a better description, she is my "ride or die" because of the honesty and painful confrontations our friendship has gone through. 

The Relationship Spectrum: Distinguishing between Healthy, Unhealthy, or Abusive Relationships. 

Everyone deserves healthy relationships. It is important to understand that, “All relationships exist on a spectrum from healthy to abusive, with unhealthy relationships somewhere in the middle,” (Domestic Violence Hotline, 2020). It's important to be knowledgeable…

The Soul of Self LOVE

The Soul of Self LOVE

The alarm goes off at 4:00 am. Eyes slowly blink to awareness. Wide yawns welcome another day. Yet instead of the usual rising that eases me out of bed, there’s a familiar pain–a heaviness that arrests me to immobility.

Deep breaths offer no relief. Rather, they only confirm the grip of weight that aggressively shoots across my back.