Sarah Murphy, LPC
Blame vs. responsibility There is a huge difference between “whose fault is it?” and “whose responsibility is it?” Learning to distinguish between the two (and learning which question to ask) is powerful and empowering. In a therapy office, blame is…
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Getting therapy isn’t just good for you. It’s good for the people in your life. I’m a therapist, so maybe I’m biased. From my perspective, there are benefits of counseling that are important, not just for the one getting counseling,…
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Having healthy boundaries is essential for our overall well-being. It also lays the groundwork for healthy relationships. Here are tips on how to create them. Healthy boundaries create a virtuous cycle of positive self-esteem and personal responsibility. Unhealthy boundaries, on…
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Often couples find themselves locked in a fruitless conversation, having the same argument time and time again, with no resolution in sight. The bad news is that this can lead both parties to feel hopeless, helpless, and misunderstood. It can…
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It’s that time of year. Turkey, travel, …and family political conversations between people who may love each other but sure don’t share a similar world view. You want to have a nice time, but you just can’t understand — how…
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Much of our current understanding of what goes wrong in adult relationships is grounded in the research on attachment. For several decades now, psychologists, therapists and educators have understood the bond between children and their primary attachment figures ― usually…
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In my work with couples, I apply a set of principles and offer practices to support them, healing wounds, and fostering closeness and connection. If you are asking for some “help for my marriage”, read on to learn about some…
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Sometimes we get upset ― really, really, upset ― with our partner. The person who knows us best can push our buttons, after all. This can be destructive and leave us wondering how to stop fighting. When we are upset,…
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Your significant other holds your heart, and you hold theirs. But often couples’ interactions are anything but gentle. It is exactly because of our closeness that we can be so triggered by our loved one. (Read about the role of…
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Kids and Candy My sons are mostly grown now; this year I’ll have three in college. (Gulp). When they were little, they were adorable. You can ask anyone who knew them. I was the luckiest mom ever. I tried to…
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