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Author Archives: Alisa Hafkin
Are We Heading for Divorce?
You’re fighting all the time – or worse, you’re not communicating at all. Has there has been a breach of trust or a loss of respect? You wonder if it’s possible to save your marriage, or if it’s even worth … Continue reading
Posted in Couples Therapy
Tagged cognitive behavioral therapy, couples therapy, divorce, marriage counseling, psychodynamic therapy
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Individual Goals, Relationship Goals, and Shared Meaning
In my years of experience counseling couples to strengthen healthy relationships and heal troubled ones, I have found that it is very helpful for couples to have both individual and relationship goals. But an even deeper need is for a … Continue reading
Posted in Healthy Relationships
Tagged couples counseling, couples therapy, healthy relationships, individual therapy, shared meaning in relationships
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Using Humor to Manage Your Stress and Anxiety
While we should not “laugh off” serious issues, light-heartedness and laughter have proven physical and psychological benefits that improve our physical and emotional health. In the midst of anxiety, stress, depression, or illness, it can be difficult to maintain a … Continue reading
Posted in Anxiety, Stress Reduction
Tagged benefits of humor, managing anxiety, managing stress, reducing anxiety, reducing stress, using humor to reduce stress
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Managing Childhood Trauma
We are all products of our experiences, both positive and negative. We can all look back on our childhood and recall sad or painful memories, but for most of us, those experiences were not traumatic enough to cause long-term problems … Continue reading
Posted in General Self Help
Tagged ACEs, adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma, managing childhood trauma, therapy
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When Your Partner Is Depressed
When your spouse or life partner is struggling with depression, your relationship will be affected, and you may have to take some proactive steps to secure your relationship as well as protect your own mental health during this time. Signs … Continue reading
Posted in Depression
Tagged couples therapy, depressed partner, depressed spouse, depression, helping a depressed partner
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Individual Therapy or Couples Counseling?
Long-term marriage takes work. Life is in constant flux, and various influences can impact the condition of your marriage. Ongoing efforts must be made to keep a marriage or any long-term relationship healthy. If your marriage has begun to show … Continue reading
Posted in Couples Therapy, Therapy
Tagged couples counseling, couples therapy, individual therapy, marriage counseling
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Navigating Holiday Stress as a Couple
As much as the winter holidays are supposed to be a time of festivities and family fun, they are also a source of stress for many people. Plan now to work together as a couple to diffuse that stress and … Continue reading
Posted in Healthy Relationships
Tagged couples counseling, holiday stress, surviving the holiday season
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Criticized in the Workplace
There can be many reasons and causes for receiving criticism in your workplace. Let’s make a distinction here between criticism that comes from a bully or a toxic work environment and work-related criticism from a boss or co-worker who perceives … Continue reading
Posted in General Self Help
Tagged office criticism, receiving criticism, therapy, workplace criticism
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What Happens in Your First Therapy Session and How to Prepare
It is perfectly natural to be nervous for your first therapy session. First, know that I applaud your effort in making the appointment. That is a great first step! Scheduling that first therapy session can be difficult, even frightening. But … Continue reading
Posted in Therapy
Tagged first therapy session, NYC therapist, preparing for therapy, therapy, what to expect in therapy
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Boundaries Around Election Discussions in NYC
Politics can be an emotionally charged subject for many people, and election season can be especially stressful. If you find that the people around you talk about politics in a manner that makes you uncomfortable, you have every right to … Continue reading
Posted in General Self Help, Stress Reduction
Tagged counseling, creating boundaries, election discussions, election stress, therapy
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