Blog for Better Living
Relationships, Roles, and Reality
By: Shanni Tal, Psy.D. | August 29, 2025
Navigating Life After Baby This article is the third and final installment in our three-part series on maternal mental health. In the first article, ‘Who Am I Now?‘, we explored the emotional identity shift of new motherhood and the profound physical, emotional, and psychological changes that come with matrescence. In the second article, ‘When […]
Read MoreWhen Joy and Grief Coexist
By: Shanni Tal, Psy.D. | August 22, 2025
Making Space for the Complex Emotions of Parenthood This article is the second in our three-part series on maternal mental health. In the first article, ‘Who Am I Now?’, we explored the emotional identity shift of new motherhood and the profound changes – physical, emotional, and psychological, that accompany matrescence. Here, we’ll explore the […]
Read MoreFirst Day of School: Parent Fantasy vs. Reality
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | August 8, 2025
I’m not quite sure how it’s possible, but the summer is already winding down. In theory, part of me finds the idea of new school supplies and a fresh start appealing. It’s the same part that daydreams about celebrating the kids’ first day back – imagining us sitting around the dinner table, sharing all the […]
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What Women Really Want
By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | April 4, 2025
The 6th Love Language of Attunement We often discuss the five love languages – words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch. But there’s an unspoken sixth love language that many women crave: attunement. It’s the emotional labor of noticing, anticipating, and responding to a partner’s needs without being asked. […]
Read MoreNavigating Parenthood: Supporting a Neurodivergent Child with Rejection Sensitivity
By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | January 31, 2025
In my work with parents of young children with confirmed or suspected neurodivergence, I often observe them navigate between celebrating their child’s gifts and managing their challenges. If you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child, the one-size-fits-all parenting strategies that are all too common on Instagram may work for other kids, but they might not […]
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About Maternal Rage
By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | September 27, 2024
Maternal rage is often misunderstood as anger or frustration experienced by mothers, stemming from the pressures and challenges of parenting. But it’s so much more. This intense emotional state is a response to systemic inequities, societal expectations, lack of support, and unmet needs amidst overwhelming parenting and household duties that cause moms to feel powerless, […]
Read MoreThe Power of Validation
By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 9, 2024
We all want to feel heard, accepted, valued, and even loved. When we validate someone, we are essentially giving them this experience. Life can be confusing and difficult for all of us, but when we are genuinely validated, we feel acknowledged and reassured that we are not alone. Life seems more manageable, and we become […]
Read MoreAnger, Anxiety, Depression, Parenting, Relationships, Therapy, Trauma
Balance Parenting Responsibilities: Increase Equity and Decrease Resentment
By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | April 12, 2024
Many women in their 30’s grew up observing traditional gender roles, when women primarily managed child-rearing responsibilities and “kept the home,” while men worked outside the home to provide financial stability. Over the years gender roles have changed and women have more opportunities to advance their careers. Despite this significant evolution, women with careers who […]
Read MoreHow to Cope with Gender Disappointment
By: Niyatee Sukumaran, Ph.D. | November 10, 2023
If you are an expectant parent, you’ve undoubtedly been asked: “Do you want a boy or a girl?” All expectant parents have their own ideas and expectations about the biological sex of their future child and create fantasies around what an ideal family looks like. The anticipation of a child’s gender can lead to a […]
Read MoreAnger, Anxiety, Children, Depression, Family, Grief, Parenting, Perinatal, Relationships