Ask a dad what his most important role is, and many will say the same thing: provider. Others might say protector, or the one who shows up for the big moments: the games, the recitals, the graduations. And all of that is true. However, as a therapist who works with a lot of dads, one of the most common blind spots is that dads often underestimate just how powerful their everyday presence truly is. Not in just the big moments, but the small ones. These are what therapists call

You’re nodding. You’re quiet. You’re doing what you think a good listener should do. And yet, your wife still says, “You’re not understanding me.” It’s confusing, right? You are not interrupting, you are not dismissing them, and you might even be agreeing with what she is saying. So why doesn’t it land? Here’s what’s really happening: listening isn’t just about hearing, it’s about emotional presence. When your partner opens up, they’re not looking for solutions or quick fixes

The end of 2023 is near, but 2024 is just within our reach. As you begin thinking about your desires, plans, and goals for next year, it...

The need for mental health services is continuing to rise year after year. Conversations about mental health in our country have been increasing over the past decade, but there is a particular population that is often not acknowledged in these conversations. Men. Research has shown that many men do suffer from mental health symptoms, but they do not typically engage in help-seeking behavior (2,3). What I have often encountered when I talk with men about going to therapy are t

Friendships can be tricky. How do we start friendships, maintain them, and get beyond just surface chatting and laughs? We all want to...