Humility is often praised as a virtue, a trait that fosters empathy, kindness, and collaboration. It allows individuals to acknowledge their flaws and show respect for others. However, “extreme humility”, or the overemphasis on putting others before oneself, can sometimes have unintended consequences. While humility is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence and healthy relationships, when taken too far, it can contribute to “low self-esteem”, feelings of worthlessness, and even burnout.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how extreme humility can be harmful to self-worth, and provide insight on how to find a balance between humility and self-empowerment.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how extreme humility can be harmful to self-worth, and provide insight on how to find a balance between humility and self-empowerment.

Communication is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship—whether it’s with a partner, family member, friend, or colleague. However, open and honest communication can be challenging when there’s fear of judgment, criticism, or misunderstanding. In such environments, people may feel reluctant to express themselves or suppress their true feelings, leading to frustration and disconnection.

Creating a safe space for communication is key to fostering healthy dialogue and emotional intimacy. But what exactly does it mean to create a “safe space,” and how can we do it? In this blog post, we’ll discuss what a safe space for communication looks like, why it’s important, and actionable steps you can take to cultivate it in your relationships.

Apologizing is one of the most important skills to cultivate in any relationship, whether personal or professional. A genuine apology can repair damage, restore trust, and create a path to reconciliation. However, many of us struggle with delivering an apology that truly conveys remorse and fosters healing.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to properly apologize, discuss why some apologies fall short, and share strategies for making your apology more meaningful and effective.

In romantic relationships, it's easy to get caught up in the emotions of the moment. You may feel an intense desire to be close to someone, but how do you know whether it’s love or just attachment? The line between the two can sometimes be blurry, leaving us confused about our feelings. Understanding the difference is key to building healthy, fulfilling relationships.

In this blog post, we'll dive into the distinctions between love and attachment, explore the psychological and emotional factors behind them, and offer tips on how to recognize which one you're experiencing.

Intimacy is one of the most deeply fulfilling aspects of a relationship. It connects us with another person on an emotional, physical, and psychological level. But what happens when that intimacy is with a toxic partner—someone whose behaviors are harmful or manipulative?

You may have found yourself in a situation where, despite the toxicity in the relationship, the intimacy still feels incredible—perhaps even addictive. It can leave you feeling confused, torn, or guilty. Why does intimacy with someone who is emotionally or verbally abusive sometimes feel so good, and why is it so hard to break free from this pattern?

In this post, we’ll explore the complex dynamics that make intimacy with a toxic partner seem so appealing and why it can be difficult to let go. Understanding these dynamics is an important first step toward reclaiming your emotional health and breaking free from unhealthy patterns.

Anxiety can feel overwhelming, like a wave crashing over you that you can't escape. One anxious thought quickly spirals into another, and before you know it, you're deep in a rabbit hole of worry and doubt. This is known as an anxiety spiral—a mental loop where anxious thoughts feed into each other, intensifying the fear and distress.

But here's the good news: You have the power to stop the spiral. By observing your thoughts, challenging your inner critic, and reframing negative thinking, you can regain control and turn the spiral in a more positive direction.

When I reflect on the pivotal moments that shaped my career, one person stands out: Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Known for her candid, approachable, and respectful perspective on human sexuality, Dr. Ruth’s contributions to the field of sex therapy have not only revolutionized the way we discuss sex but also deeply inspired my decision to pursue a career as a sex therapist. Dr. Ruth passed away on July 12, 2024, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to shape future generations of therapists, educators, and individuals seeking guidance on sexual health and relationships.

Discover how to process your emotions effectively with this step-by-step guide. Learn how to identify, understand, and breathe through your feelings with guidance from Bloom Practice’s therapists.

Narcissism is a personality disorder in which a person has an inflated sense of self without cause. This is usually closely tied to traits like extreme focus on the self and a powerful need for praise. You’ve likely met someone who you thought was a narcissist in your day-to-day life.

People don’t often realize that narcissism is a spectrum. There are nine key narcissistic traits and several different types of narcissists. While most people exhibit some narcissistic traits, few actually have a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). You may be surprised to hear that some narcissistic traits can even be protective rather than damaging. Let’s take a deeper look.

Oftentimes, we get so busy taking care of our responsibilities and other people that our own needs come last. While practicing self-care might seem frivolous or like a trendy buzzword, it’s essential for overall health.

Family members depend on each other for physical, emotional, and financial support. Over time, family members develop an overall dynamic - that is, the relationships, roles, and boundaries that shape their interactions.

The family dynamic determines how each family functions as a unit. Some families have an enmeshed system, meaning that family members each have minimal independence. On the other end of the spectrum are rigid family systems, in which there are many boundaries that limit communication, making members feel isolated and separate from the family unit.

Over the last six years, antidepressant prescription rates have increased by 35%. While these medications can do wonderful things to improve mental health, many people report sexual side effects, with a top concern being decreased libido.

Understanding why antidepressants cause sexual side effects can help you determine a path forward, whether that’s choosing to take the medication in the first place or adjusting your prescription. Additionally, there are steps you can take to address these side effects and improve your libido, which we’ll discuss below.

Do you find yourself speaking in extremes about dating? Whether you think that your ideal partner doesn’t exist or all the good ones are already married, this kind of thinking is the perfect example of a scarcity mindset.

With this mindset, you’ll likely remain single or feel stuck with people who aren’t right for you. Let’s discuss how to spot a scarcity mindset, what it does to your dating life, and how you can overcome it by building your self-esteem.

Deciding to start therapy and invest in your mental health is a huge step that you should feel proud to have made. But what happens when you are in therapy and struggle to do the work? For some people, this can show up as avoidance and resistance - avoiding sharing their struggles or resisting the techniques offered by their therapists.

Why do you make the effort to seek out therapy, only to resist or avoid it? What does it really mean about you? And, even more importantly, what can you do about it? We’ll discuss these questions below.

Your partner is someone you love deeply. But if you’re like most people, this is also the person you argue with most. Many people enter arguments with the desire to show their partner their point of view, and ultimately to find that they’re the correct one in the dispute. After all, it’s human nature to believe that your opinion is correct.

But being “right” doesn’t necessarily mean a step forward for your relationship. In fact, sometimes insisting on being right can even be detrimental to the bond you share with your partner - especially if you’re willing to go to extreme lengths to prove your point. Plus, research from Dr. John Gottman shows that 69% of the time, couples argue about unsolvable perpetual problems. In other words, you’re unlikely to resolve the things you fight about most often, typically because of fundamental differences.

Narcissists are overwhelmingly focused on themselves, lacking the ability to empathize and even care about others. If you find yourself in a relationship with a narcissist, you might wonder if the partnership is doomed. Is it possible to have a successful, healthy relationship with someone who is so fixated on themselves? We’ll explore this question in the article below.

When you’re dealing with a tough work environment, what do you do? For many, the answer is to push their feelings aside at work and cope with the adverse effects once they get home. But this approach doesn’t work - we spend roughly a third of our lives at work. At some point, those feelings will catch up with you. And, if you’re dealing with mental health issues outside of work, they will undoubtedly follow you into the office.

To put it simply, advocating for your mental health in the workplace is critical for a healthy life. You spend the majority of your waking time at work, so making it a healthy environment is essential. Here’s how to do it.

Your doctor may clear you to have sex as soon as six weeks after giving birth, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll want to. In fact, having children of any age can affect your sex life. Your physical, emotional, and mental states are different after having kids, all of which play into your sex drive.

Still, sex is a critical part of a romantic relationship. It strengthens the bond between yourself and your partner and helps fulfill the needs of both parties. So how do you get back to your regular sex lives when enjoying sex feels impossible? Read on for my best tips as a trained sex therapist.

It’s easy to lose yourself in a relationship. You may show up to your first date as the best version of yourself, ready to impress and entice the other person. As you grow closer to your partner, the lines between the two of you start to blur. You spend more time together than apart, you make decisions as a team, and you depend on each other to care for your physical, emotional, and mental needs.

By the time your months or years into the relationship, you may find yourself wondering where that “best version” person went. How did you go from being an independent single person to feeling like you’re one-half of a whole? As a matter of fact, you might be wondering where your partner’s individuality went, too.