How Stress Messes with Your Relationship (and What to Do About It) Let’s talk about something that sneaks into every relationship at some point—stress. Whether it’s work deadlines, financial struggles, family drama, or just life being, well, life, stress has a way of creeping in and messing with even the strongest relationships. As a therapist […]

Why Your Avoidant Partner Shuts Down During Conflict—And How You Can Help If you’ve ever been in an argument with your partner and watched them emotionally check out, go silent, or physically remove themselves from the conversation, you might be dealing with an avoidant attachment response. It’s frustrating, confusing, and let’s be real—infuriating. Just when […]

How to Practice Self-Compassion in Daily Life (Without Feeling Selfish) Let’s be real—being kind to ourselves doesn’t always come naturally. We’re often our own worst critics, quick to offer compassion to others but stingy when it comes to ourselves. Sound familiar? If so, it’s time for a mindset shift. Self-compassion isn’t self-indulgence or an excuse […]

Arguments happen in every relationship. But what really matters is what comes after the fight. Do you and your partner stew in silence? Sweep it under the rug? Or do you find a way to come back together, stronger than before? Repairing after a fight isn’t just about saying “sorry”—it’s about rebuilding trust, fostering understanding, and learning […]

Ever feel like you and your partner are stuck in the same frustrating argument on repeat? You try to talk, they shut down. Or maybe they bring something up, and you get defensive. Before you know it, you’re both emotionally exhausted, wondering how you even got here. Welcome to the negative cycle—that relentless pattern that keeps couples disconnected, […]

If your partner often asks for reassurance, worries about the relationship, or seems overly sensitive to distance, they might have anxious attachment—and no, this isn’t just about being “needy” or “insecure.” It’s about how they’ve learned to seek safety in relationships. For couples, this dynamic can be challenging, especially if one partner leans more independent or […]

Nervous System Regulation Ever feel like you’re on edge 24/7, ready to fight, flee, or curl up in a blanket burrito and pretend adulting isn’t real? That’s your nervous system doing its thing—sometimes a little too well. As a therapist in Hermosa Beach, I see so many individuals and couples who don’t realize their nervous system is […]

Self-Abandonment: Why You Keep Putting Yourself Last (And How to Stop) If you’ve ever said “it’s fine” when it absolutely was not fine, or agreed to something just to avoid conflict (even though you reallllly didn’t want to), congrats—you’ve met self-abandonment. It’s that sneaky habit of ignoring your needs, downplaying your feelings, and bending over backward to […]

Why Do Some People Work Too Much? And How Can Therapy Help? In a culture that glorifies the hustle, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that our worth is tied to our productivity. Working hard is often seen as a virtue, a badge of honor that signals ambition, resilience, and dedication. But […]

Powerhouse, high-achieving women are remarkable, largely due to their ability to dig deep when things get tough, overcome obstacles, and excel where others quit. High-achieving women are, to a fault, amazing at compensation. A lot of that compensation is coupled with a determined striving personality. That’s what makes them high-achieving. Many women who fit this […]