Ebony, a 26 year-old woman, describes a routine disagreement with her mother to her therapist. Ebony’s parents divorced when she was 8 years old.  Since then, Ebony says her mother has made impulsive decisions, not always in her best interest regarding employment opportunities and relationships with men, family members and friends.

The debate over whether gender is a biological or social construct continues to dominate conversations, especially regarding what it means to be masculine in the 21st century.  Although boys are still treated differently than girls, this gendering process is not as strongly supported by parents today as it was 30 years ago.

If someone you care about says “if you love me, then you would (fill in the blank),” you are actually hearing that person’s anxieties. Underlying these anxieties is a need to control the parameters of how love is shown. You want your partner to make you feel better by trying to communicate in the only way you know how to–by attempting to control his or her behavior.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or is it? For many people, mixed feelings arise during the holidays, especially if they don’t have a true and deep sense of belonging within a social group, whether that’s family, friends, or any other social connection. It’s not easy to meet people who are reasonably thoughtful and emotionally sensitive.