My Blog

Authentic Connections, Boundaries, and Relationships

4 Reasons People Tolerate Bad Behavior conflict avoidance relationship dynamics relationship red flags relationships toxic relationships Aug 09, 2025

Why would someone treat another person poorly and expect them to take it? And, maybe more importantly, why on earth would the recipient of that behavior accept it?

There are plenty of reasons someone might behave disrespectfully, but I want to focus on something else. Why would someone stay in a re...

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Being Authentic in Your Marriage Even When It Causes Tension authenticity emotion regulation marriage relationship tips relationships Jul 27, 2025

You don't need to apologize for something you didn’t do, but you also don’t want to disconnect. Here's what to do when you and your partner see the same moment in completely different ways.

A client of mine, Tammy (not her real name), is nearing retirement as a healthcare provider. She's caring, sm...

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Why "I'm Sorry" Isn't Enough: How to Stop Reacting and Start Communicating in Relationships apology emotion regulation relationship dynamics self-improvement self-reflection Jul 20, 2025

“I apologized. Why isn't my apology enough?”

Have you ever asked yourself that question? My client Cassie (not her real name) asked me that question during a recent coaching session. She was confused and hurt. The day before, her partner made a simple comment about how she handled a situation with ...

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Why We Always Want the End of the Story (Even If We Have to Make It Up) ask me anything emotion regulation relationship tips self-improvement self-worth Jun 15, 2025

We all love a good ending.

Not just in obvious stories, like books and movies, but in everywhere in life: in relationships, in arguments, and in the stories we tell ourselves. We want the dots connected, the characters explained, and the lose ends tied up. And, it's a bonus if the story ends in a w...

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Will your partner leave if you say no or set a boundary? ask me anything boundaries emotional health self-improvement toxic relationships Jun 08, 2025

A reader recently sent in this question:

How do you say no to a partner that you realize has an avoidant attachment style? I feel that if I say no or contradict her that will lead to her pulling further away.

This is the core conundrum of people-pleasers and those with anxious attachment style: ho...

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Are You a Priority or an Option? How to Tell the Difference. ask me anything effective communication self-worth toxic relationships Feb 09, 2025

Dear Dr. Julie: I caught feelings for a guy. I’m in America, and he’s in Africa. He says there’s no rush for a relationship. At first, I thought we were dating, but him saying that is confusing.

Now I’m at a point where I feel kinda foolish, like he had a change of heart and I was never his type fr...

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