Could You Be Unintentionally Creating Distance in Your Relationships?
Some of the moments that shape our relationships are so small we barely notice them. Your partner starts telling you something about their day while you’re answering work emails on your phone, and you don’t look up. Your child says, “Mom, come see,” for what feels like the tenth time that afternoon. You reply, “I’ll […]
How Mindfulness Can Help You and Your Relationships
“Few of us ever live in the present. We are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.” ― Louis L’Amour If you’re like a lot of folks, you sometimes find yourself caught up in ruminations about the past or worries about the future. It’s natural, and not always inappropriate (if, for instance, […]
Unlocking Desire: 3 Essential Lessons from My Ph.D. Dissertation
If you happened to see our practice’s recent newsletters, you may have noticed that I recently completed my Ph.D! I would love to share a little about the research behind my dissertation and, more importantly, how it has directly influenced the way I think about intimacy, connection, and desire in my work with clients. As […]
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Discernment Counseling Can Help You Decide
“Discernment counseling creates a holding environment for the couple to develop clarity and confidence in deciding on the next step for their relationship, whether it is divorce or a shared commitment to couples therapy to repair the relationship.” – William Doherty and Steven Harris, Helping Couples on the Brink of Divorce Couples come to therapy […]
Therapy, Anyone?
The decision to seek therapy is a personal one but very much a sign of strength and a desire to improve one’s quality of life. Therapy can help you navigate confusing emotions while developing coping mechanisms in the struggle. What I find most interesting about the process is the insight gained into your thoughts and […]
Reigniting the Spark: Embracing “Me, You, and We”
“What do you want to do?” That deceptively simple question can land like a grenade. Instead of sparking excitement, it can trigger frustration, exhaustion, even resentment. In the whirlwind of work, school, family routines, and never-ending to-dos, carving out date nights feels like just another checkbox—only to end up scrolling in bed, binge-watching Netflix, or […]
Spring in Louisiana: Savoring Connection
Spring in Louisiana is one of my favorite times of year—festival season is in full swing, the weather is beautiful, and there’s a natural pull toward gathering and reconnection. In my work with couples, I’m often reminded how hard it can be to carve out time for meaningful connection. That’s why I love Louisiana’s food-centered […]
Responsive Sexual Desire
You might remember that as a teen, thoughts of sex and pleasurable sexual activity often materialized out of thin air. Almost any environmental cue, like a song lyric, a pleasing scent, a brush against exposed skin, or most frequently just a thought or memory, could initiate sexual desire. In the world of sex scholarship, this […]
Rekindling the Magic: Traditions, Kin Keeping, and Honest Holiday Conversations
The holidays are supposed to be a season of light, laughter, and togetherness—but let’s be real, they often leave us feeling drained. If you’re the one keeping everything afloat—planning, cooking, gift-wrapping, orchestrating traditions—it can feel overwhelming. Sometimes the magic we’re trying so hard to create slips away, leaving us wondering: Why does this feel so […]
Glimmers
Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author, and international lecturer on polyvagal theory-informed work with trauma survivors. Deb developed the Rhythm of Regulation clinical training series which is “the science of feeling safe enough to fall in love with life and take the risks of living”. She brings the polyvagal perspective to the ordinary […]