Posts by Rebecca A. Berg, MFT
The Importance of Collaborative Meaning Making with Suicidal Intensity
September in National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to talking about a topic and crisis that many shy away from, even clinicians. Much more work is needed to break the stigma surrounding suicide. Encouraging open conversations is paramount. The Statistics are Sobering According the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the…
Read MoreWalking the Lonely Road of Guilt in Grief
After someone we love dies we often experience guilt. Learning to move through the guilt and find release is crucial to healing. But it can be tricky to know how to get unstuck. It is helpful to put words to the feelings and articulate our own unique experience with loss. Grief is universal and understanding…
Read MoreUnlearning Anxiety: When Uncomfortable Isn’t Unsafe
Your heart starts to pound. Your palms become sweaty. Your vision begins to blur. You have trouble forming a logical cohesive thought. Sound familiar? When you’re anxious, your body and mind are often working against you. They are both primed to detect threat and be protective. Being uncomfortable does not equate with danger. However, anxiety…
Read MoreHow to Cope with Your Narcissistic Parent
Having a narcissistic parent is difficult to say the least. You may feel like you have tried everything to get them to actually see you while maintaining a relationship. Adult children of narcissistic parents are often exasperated, exhausted, and ashamed of the continual dance within themselves and with their parents. So what are the options?…
Read MoreRecovering from a Narcissistic Parent
Do you struggle with self-doubt? Are you great at reading other people’s emotions? Are you plagued with shame and guilt for not meeting others’ needs? Do you have a harsh inner critic? Do you struggle to recognize your own needs? If you can identify with any of the above statements, you may have grown up…
Read MoreNavigating the Role Shift as a Parent of a Teen
Remember when your child used to adore you and try to emulate you? There may have been constant hugs and unprompted, “I love yous.” You may remember those times fondly if you’re a parent of a teen. It may seem like a monumental task to even make eye contact with your teen these days. If…
Read More6 Ways to Lessen the Mental Load
The Mental Load moms carry is often invisible. The planning, organizing, and execution of the many tasks mothers are asked to do in our society can be overwhelming and exhausting. What’s a mom to do? You can’t get rid of your kids. If you work, quitting your job to attend to family life is often…
Read MoreThe Enduring Numbness: What You Need to Know About Anhedonia
Why does everything feel so hard? Do you struggle not just with motivation but with feeling joy or pleasure? Activities and social interactions may feel “meh” at best. Anhedonia is one of the hallmark signs of depression and when it shows up, it can be increasingly frustrating. Being Curiously Unmoved It is different from sadness…
Read MoreAn Anxiety Clue: Rehearsing and Rehashing Conversations in Your Head
Have you ever wondered why you prepare for conversations before having them? Or do you carefully examine all aspects of an interaction after it has happened? Do you wonder if most people do this? Or is it just you? Could this be a form of anxiety? Anticipatory Anxiety Rehearsing conversations in your head may be…
Read MoreThe Good Enough Mother
As mothers, we have many dreams for our children. There is much pressure from society about how to be the perfect mother, and despite the best of intentions, the reality is that the challenges of motherhood can often be overwhelming. The great news is we only have to be “good enough” according to the psychoanalyst…
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