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Relationships

Whether you're dealing with family dynamics, seeking to strengthen your marriage, navigating the complexities of dating, or addressing issues like infidelity and divorce, our contributors shares tools and insights to foster healthy, meaningful connections with those around you, improving your overall quality of life. Enhance your interpersonal connections with advice on family, marriage, dating, and handling toxic relationships. Learn how to identify and manage narcissistic behavior, improve your parenting skills, build strong, intimate relationships and make your marriage bullet-proof.

Narcissist

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The Cup with a Hole – Why Narcissists Crave Constant External Approval

Individuals with narcissism have a severe pathological need for validation. What is validation? Validation is connected to our self-esteem, self-worth, and self-efficacy. Self-esteem refers to...

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Narcissistic Abuse – The Trafficking of the Human Spirit

Narcissistic abuse operates under the radar, not as a legally recognized crime, but as an insidious system of control that hides in plain sight. It doesn’t leave behind physical chains but instead...

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Understanding Narcissism, Giving, and the Balance of Healthy Relationships

If you've spent any time online over the past decade, you've likely noticed a growing wave of content warning about narcissists. Ten years ago, I hadn’t even heard the term. Now, I come across daily...

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Fast Chemistry – When It Feels Too Good Too Soon

In a world focused on academic success, we often overlook the emotional well-being of our youth. This article examines the importance of teaching young people how to navigate difficult emotions such...

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The Hidden Narcissism in Our Education System – A Call for Authenticity and Inner Growth

Our education system, often defined by pressure, standardization, and a focus on outward success, harbors a hidden yet profound influence: a subtle form of narcissism. This invisible force, ingrained...

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Charm & Control – 7 Tools Narcissists Use to Win Your Trust

Not every manipulator starts with red flags. In fact, narcissists often begin by making you feel deeply seen, understood, and connected. But beneath the surface charm, they use calculated emotional...

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Why You Keep Attracting Narcissistic Partners

Many of the women I coach are successful, driven, emotionally aware and yet they find themselves repeating the same painful story: falling for narcissistic men. The patterns vary, emotionally...

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How to Co-Parent With a Narcissist and Stay Sane – When the “No Contact” Rule Isn’t Fully an Option

Co-parenting with a narcissist isn't the traditional journey, it’s a psychological battlefield. When "no contact" isn't an option, women must employ strategies like parallel parenting and legal filters to manage...

Family

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10 Questions for Gay Men to Discuss Before Starting Surrogacy

Starting a family through surrogacy is an exciting yet complex path for many gay men. From navigating genetics and logistics to choosing the right country, egg donor, and surrogate, there are countless...

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Holiday Breakups & Healing Paths – When Hypnotherapy Meets Family Law

The holidays often bring a welcome break from routine. But for many couples, this time together highlights just how far apart they've drifted. When daily life is busy, it's easy to live like passing...

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Love Beyond Permission – Breaking Ancestral Chains of Conditional Affection

When parents, culture, and society dictate who we love, they bind us to karmic patterns. True freedom comes when the soul chooses love for its own evolution.

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Six Signs of False Nobility

Nobility is the practice of being honorable and good. It is an ideal that many of us claim to possess and aspire to embody. However, how we define our individual nobility can lead us into unnecessary...

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Beyond Balance – Creating Emotional Wealth for High-Flying Families

Work-life balance. It’s a phrase so often repeated that it has almost lost its meaning. For senior leaders, balance can feel like a fantasy one more demand on an already impossible list. Meetings stretch...

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"Sometimes It’s Only Mine” – Teaching Twins to Share as a Choice Rather Than a Chore

The pressure to share is truly a recurring subject with twins. They already share so much: parents, birthdays, often their room and/or playroom, toys, clothes, and sometimes even their appearance. It’s...

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When Forgiveness Isn’t Enough – Healing After the Hurt They Never Apologized for

I don't want to be wanted or needed. I want to be loved. Those who know me personally know that I love music, and that I love to sing and dance, not as a hobby or a desire to be an artist, but just for the love of music.

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11 Ways to Swap Drama for Devotion on Your Daughter’s Big Day

Now that my daughter is engaged, I’m finding myself in new emotional territory. Parts of me are beaming with joy, anticipation, and pride. Then there are other parts, quieter, more tender...

Marriage

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Is Comfort Quietly Killing Your Connection?

This isn’t an article about “fixing” your relationship (spoiler: you’re not broken). It’s about remembering what’s sacred. It’s about liberation from the illusion that comfort means peace.

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10 Essential Traits of a Healthy, Happy Couple, and How to Become One

In an age of overstimulation and emotional fragmentation, healthy relationships are radical acts. The most joyful couples aren’t just lucky, they’re intentional. They understand that love is built in...

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Sandcastles and the Silent Struggles – Navigating the Summer When Your Relationship is Unsure

The sun is setting low over the coastline. The kids are racing ahead, sticky from ice cream, sand, and sunscreen. Your dog is paddling, tail wagging excitedly as he chases the ball in and out of the waves...

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The Foundation of Love Strengthening Marriages Through Commitment and Connection

Marriage is more than a social contract; it is a sacred commitment, an intertwining of souls embarking on life’s journey together. As described by Psych Central, "Marriage is the mix of love and a...

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Why Your Inner Child Might Be Running Your Love Life and How to Take the Wheel

I remember the exact moment I was done letting my little girl have the control in my romantic partnership. Let me paint a picture: my partner and I were in the middle of a kid-free, adults-only...

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The Three Realms of Relationship Success and 14 Days to Transform Your Love Life

What makes a relationship truly thrive? It’s a question many couples ask, especially when love starts feeling stagnant or strained. The truth is, successful relationships don’t just happen...

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What’s Really Causing Emotional Distance in Your Relationship After Kids and How to Fix It

You love your partner. You both love your child. And yet, if you’re honest, it feels like you’re living beside each other, not with each...

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7 Steps to Decide Whether to Stay or Leave Your Marriage Without Regret

Making the choice to remain in or exit a marriage is one of the hardest decisions that a person can make. It can be especially difficult...

Infidelity

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How Couples Can Truly Recover from Infidelity Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

Infidelity is one of the most devastating experiences a couple can endure. It shakes the foundation of safety, honesty, and emotional intimacy that a relationship is built upon. As a trauma-informed...

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How to Stop Trying to Please Everyone and Reclaim Your Authentic Voice Midlife

Are you nice at the expense of holding back your truth? Does that niceness strangle you and sit heavy on your chest? And when you do say...

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Breaking Free from the Chains of Perception and Trauma

Who and what should we believe? On one side, there's a carefully worded story. Filled with salacious details and tidbits...

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What's The Motivation Behind Infidelity (And Why Is It Important To Know)?

A whopping 45% of married men have been involved in emotional infidelity, while 35% of women have participated in an emotional affair...

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When Do Emotional Affairs Become Full-Blown Affairs? The 8 Stages Explained

Ever heard of an emotional affair? They're dangerous! The definition of an emotional affair is a deep, emotional, non-physical

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If You’re Cheating, Don’t Wait To Get Caught

Hello, cheaters. Hello, people engaging in any kind of infidelity.

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The Affair – It Happened, Now What? 7 Secrets To Staying Married When Everyone Else Says Leave

You can stay married after an affair, even if everyone else says leave.

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Relationships Can Be Complicated – Why Do Men And Women Cheat?

A common saying says, “Once a cheater always a cheater”.

Parenting

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6 Tips for Navigating ADHD Challenges in Relationships

If you’ve spent any time online recently, you’ve likely noticed that the conversation around ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) has exploded. As awareness grows, so does our understanding...

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The Motherhood Shift – Why Growing Up With Your Kids Is the Real Journey

Motherhood is marketed to us like a highlight reel, newborn snuggles, toddler tantrums, school lunches, teenage eye rolls, then a beautifully curated empty nest. What makes me sad, and what we don't...

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The Secret to Helping Kids Stay Curious in a World Full of Answers

In an age where answers are just a click away, children risk losing the spark of curiosity that drives true learning. This article explores why nurturing curiosity is more important than ever, how instant...

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Navigating Legal Rights as a Stepparent in New York

Every year on September 16, National Stepfamily Day recognizes the unique love, challenges, and dedication of blended families. Millions of children across the country are raised in homes that...

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The Wounds Left by Parents

At A Mindful Message, healing begins when silence is broken. Many of us carry invisible wounds from childhood, often shaped by the dynamics we had with our mother, father, or primary caregivers.

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Parenting a Neurodivergent Child and Rewriting the Rulebook with Compassion and Evidence

Every parenting book assumes one thing: that children will follow the script. What happens when your child doesn’t? What if the “rules” never apply to your family? That is the reality for parents...

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How to Set an Effective Limit When You Need to Win Your Child’s Cooperation

A note before you read: to accommodate both girls and boys, the text below alternates between the two in each section. There are limits where we can impose our will on our child, such as whether to get a snack...

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How to Reclaim Your Presence and Legacy Before It's Too Late

In the hustle of daily life, it’s easy to lose yourself in the roles you play: mother, partner, and professional. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself what your children will remember about you?

Divorce

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Freedom From the Fairytale – How Childhood Beliefs & Fears Cloud the Decision to Leave Our Marriage

It’s often in the stillness of the night that fear creeps in. You lie awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering if you can keep going in your marriage. You’ve thought about leaving before, perhaps ...

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How to Deliver the Decision to Divorce – A Thoughtful and Compassionate Approach

Data from UK family law sources indicate that September is the second most popular month for people to break the news that they want to separate. With the flourish of summer holidays ending and children...

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Women’s Rights and Mediation – A Path to Equal Voice

When we think about women’s rights, our minds often turn to political milestones, workplace equity, or access to education. But there’s another arena where women’s rights are just as critical, family...

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Protecting Women from Financial Abuse in Marriage

At WhitsonLaw, we see firsthand how financial abuse can quietly but powerfully shape the course of a marriage. While domestic abuse is often associated with physical violence, financial abuse is a...

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How to Protect Your Children from Narcissistic Family Dynamics

Family law cases involving narcissistic personalities are among the most challenging and emotionally complex issues that a family can face. For parents navigating divorce or separation from a narcissistic..

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Death, Divorce, and Moving – Navigating Life’s Top Challenges with Resilience

They say life’s most stressful events are death, divorce, and moving. I’ve lived through all three, sometimes all at once, and I can attest to their power to shake your foundation.

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Managing Heartbreak and Steps to Emotional Recovery and Resilience

Heartbreak after separation or divorce is an emotionally overwhelming experience. It can leave you feeling lost, disconnected, and sometimes physically ill. The emotional and physical toll is profound...

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Can Adult Children of Grey Divorce Ever Truly Heal?

Have you ever heard someone say they stayed (or are staying) together "for the kids"? It's a familiar sentiment, and perhaps you've even seen it play out in your own family. As the years pass and kids grow up and move out...

Dating

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Understanding Relationships & Communication for HSPs and Empaths

Navigating relationships as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or Empath is an art. If you’ve ever felt frustrated with surface-level small talk (as most HSPs do), or if you’ve longed for genuine connection...

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From Toxic to True Love – How to Stop Attracting Unavailable Partners

Do you ever feel like you keep shopping for love in the same section, trying to make relationships fit even when they're clearly not designed for you? Like trying on a dress you know isn't quite right...

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Love vs. Limerence – Are You Head Over Heels or Just Chasing a Dream?

In the grand design of human passion, limerence and love are woven together in a pattern both beautiful and baffling. Both can set a fire and both can be fun, but they are not the same thing.

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Swipe with Intention, Connect with Heart – A Ritual for Modern Love

As a Sex, Love, and Relationship Coach, I often support clients through the dating process. Much of that work involves helping them come home to themselves, understanding who they really are, and learning...

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Why My Success Scares Off Potential Boyfriends

Being a founder or CEO often plants me firmly in my masculine energy; we all know the drill. But being “the boss” isn’t exactly all sunshine and rainbows. The truth? We’re all scared, trying to calm...

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The Dating Crisis in the Modern World

Dating in America has always reflected the broader cultural moment. In the 1950s, courtship was a ritual tethered to family, faith, and long-term commitment. In the ’70s and ’80s, it became more expressive...

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Tired of Wasting Time on Dead-End Dates? – Here's What You're Missing

Tired of wasting time on dead-end dates? It might be your dating strategy that's turning the right men away. In this article, learn how shifting from a control-driven approach to embracing your feminine...

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The Creator’s Dilemma and Balancing Love, Life, and Livelihood

I live with the same thing I create with: my creativity. It’s not simply a skill or a career path; it is the lens through which I experience the world, the very force that sustains my livelihood...

Intimate Relationships

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Are You Addicted to Internet Pornography?

Struggling with internet pornography addiction? You’re not alone. Start recovery with three proven steps, let go of denial through honest self-checks, talk to someone safe, and build accountability in a community.

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Mind the Gap – How Expectations Feed the Divide in Relationships

From the moment we meet someone special to the last second, regardless how it ends, expectations are a constant companion of the relationship, weather we like it or not. Relationships thrive on...

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Why Doesn’t She Just Tell Me What She Wants? – And Why That’s Completely the Wrong Question

Let’s start with a truth that many men find maddening, confusing or at the very least deeply perplexing: Most women don’t know exactly what they want sexually. And even if they do, they’d really...

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The Hidden Cost of Sex Positivity

There is a silent epidemic that no one is talking about. One that is hidden beneath hashtags of ‘empowerment’ and filtered selfies eluding to liberation. While society hails this era of sexual freedom...

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Grieve, Burn & Worship – Come Back to Your Body in Devotion and Fire

This powerful piece invites you to reconnect with your body through the transformative rituals of grief, pleasure, and devotion. In a world that teaches us to shrink, hide, and punish our bodies...

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What High-Achieving Women Can Learn About Intimacy From the Divine Feminine

There’s a quiet truth many high-achieving women carry but rarely speak aloud: the more competent, efficient, and “in control” we become, the more elusive intimacy can feel. Not just sexual intimacy...

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Why So Many Settle for Mediocre Sex and What to Do About It

There is a sentiment that echoes in therapy sessions, intimate conversations, and those rare moments of vulnerability when someone finally voices their inner struggle: You are not alone in this.

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Commitment: The Real Decision – A Meditation on Relationships, Growth, and Choosing Without Forcing

Recently, I found myself in a deep conversation with two friends, each of us standing at a different threshold of relationship commitment. One friend is in the midst of a separation, wrestling with the question...

Toxic Relationships

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When Love Feels Heavy – Recognizing and Healing Trauma Bonds and Toxic Relationship Patterns

When people think of bonds, they often imagine connections rooted in love and trust. The kind that feels safe and grounding. Not all bonds are healthy. Some are forged in fire, shaped by pain, and...

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Understanding Your Emotional Boundaries & Reclaiming Your Personal Spaces

Emotional boundaries are like a protective shield for your heart and soul. They define the limits of what you're comfortable with emotionally and help you maintain a sense of self. Unfortunately, trauma...

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Why Lust Is the Silent Destroyer of Souls and Generations

From ancient teachings to modern culture, lust corrodes integrity, love, and even lineage. Here’s how it infiltrates our lives and how to reclaim your soul from its grip.

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How Do I Stop Attracting the Same People Over and Over Again?

Have you ever found yourself asking why you keep attracting the same type of person, despite your best efforts to change? This article explores the "Mirror Effect" and how our inner beliefs and wounds...

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Anxiety in Relationships – Is it Toxic or Just a Signal?

Relationships, especially in the early stages, can evoke a range of emotions, from bliss and excitement to irritation and anxiety. When anxiety enters the room, we might wonder...

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Five Red Flags of Limerence Instead of Real Love

Have you ever felt that your way of loving people is a bit too much? Has anyone ever expressed this to you or made you feel judged for it? Have you been ghosted or abandoned by someone you were really...

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The Dark Side of Keeping the Peace and Why Your Niceness is Not Neutral

I was raised in a family deeply rooted in dysfunction and abuse. It shaped me quietly and invisibly into someone who believed that keeping the peace was survival. Later in life, I found myself building businesses surrounded...

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What If Your Loyalty to Others Led You to Abandon Yourself?

Exploring how codependent patterns can quietly fuel addiction, and what it means to reclaim your sense of self. Addiction is often viewed as a personal battle with substances or behaviors, but it...

Friendships

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Women Are Conditioned to Explain, Fix, and Please, but It's Time We Course Correct

For generations, women have been conditioned to explain themselves, fix emotional problems, and please others at the expense of their own well-being. These patterns, rooted in survival, culture, and...

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How to Show Up for the New Moms in Your Life

It can be isolating to be a new parent. When you’re in it, being wrapped up in newborn life often feels like the world has moved on without you, leaving you in a weird limbo between baby bliss...

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Why You Struggle to Say No and What You Were Taught Instead

You know the pattern. You say yes when you mean no. You ignore the discomfort in your chest. You rehearse saying no in your head, but smile and go along with it anyway. Then the guilt hits. The shame.

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How to Handle Difficult Conversations Without Burning Bridges

We’ve all felt it, that tightening in your chest when you know a hard conversation is coming. Maybe it’s about a pattern that’s been bothering you, a boundary that’s been crossed...

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From People-Pleasing to Personal Empowerment, or How Releasing Good Girl Syndrome Sets You Free

You smile. You nod. You say, “Of course!” while your stomach churns and your to-do list explodes. You’re known as the reliable one. The thoughtful one. The one who always shows up.

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Reclaiming Your Mental Space in a Hyper-Connected World

In today's 24/7 digital landscape, intrusion isn't just a physical boundary violation; it's a constant assault on our mental and...

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10 Ways Drama Builds Lifelong Friendships And Supports Mental Well-Being

Do you ever feel disconnected from others or struggle to form meaningful friendships? You’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced world...

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Why Adult Friendships Should Mean More Than A Night Out

Adult friends are different from having friends as a child, but I’m biased. I was bullied from elementary school...

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