Relationship Tips
Do you hold your breath when things are going too well? Last week, I was talking to a friend who just landed her dream job. But instead of celebration, she said, “Yeah, but I don’t know if it’ll work out. What if I’m not qualified?” After watching her steal her own joy for ten minutes, […]
Last weekend, I found myself in what felt like the Olympics of puzzle-solving. My son Tristan had qualified for the Rubik’s Cube World Championship, and I got to witness the world’s fastest “cubers” compete in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was incredible to see. There were young people from 6 years old to about 30, from […]
In my 27 years of practice, there’s one dynamic I see more than almost any other—and it’s quietly suffocating even the strongest relationships. It starts innocently enough. One partner begins handling a few extra responsibilities. What begins as temporary support slowly becomes permanent management. Before they know it, one person is reminding their partner about […]
Every day in my practice, I hear some version of the same story. A client sits across from me and shares how, as a child, they were told they were “too sensitive,” “too much,” “not enough,” or simply not acceptable the way they were. These early experiences didn’t just hurt in the moment. They rewired […]
As a Holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl wisely noted: “Between stimulus and reaction there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” This profound insight applies directly to our relationships. When challenges arise, we have the power to choose how we respond. By […]
The Key to Happiness & Health I’m writing this from a hospital chair where I’ve spent the last seven days. My son was admitted with a collapsed lung, requiring surgery. Thankfully, he’s recovering well now. But during this unexpected pause in life’s usual rhythm, I’ve learned something profound about connection, happiness, and health. My son […]
Resentment is one of the most corrosive emotions in relationships. It builds slowly, often beneath the surface, until it erupts in ways that surprise even us. But where does resentment come from? In my experience working with clients, resentment almost always traces back to two things: people pleasing and poor boundaries. When we say yes […]
Living Eulogies of Love Yesterday was my birthday. It’s always a day of deep reflection for me, and this year I found myself contemplating how my perspective on birthday celebrations has evolved over the years – not just personally, but through the lens of my work with individuals, couples, and families, and understanding of human […]
This year, I attended seven funerals. All of them were for my friends’ parents. As a relationship expert, I couldn’t help but notice something profound – something that would forever change how I understand human connection. What struck me wasn’t just the services themselves, but the stark difference in how people grieved. Through these experiences, […]
I have a confession to make. I like being alone. I like doing things alone. I prefer not to talk to other people. I’d rather read a book or take a walk in nature. I know how ironic this sounds as a relationship expert who advocates healthy attachment and spends over a thousand hours each […]
During the haunting emptiness of the COVID lockdown, I encountered a profound lesson about human connection in the most unexpected place – the lobby of my office building. While most of the city remained shut down, I was among the few who ventured back to work after restrictions eased. There, I met (let’s call him) […]
Reflections on Canadian Thanksgiving Day Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day in Canada, where I live. I find myself reflecting on the profound journey that has brought me to this moment of gratitude. There was a time in my life when I struggled to find anything to be thankful for. As a younger person, I felt adrift, […]
