Imperfect Love

We often believe that families are based on shared genes—that biology itself creates family. Yet in my professional and personal experience, I've surely found that the healthiest of families are based not on genetics but on deep love and connection. Through this lens, we can appreciate that children who are adopted can be embraced as part of a family with as much love and devotion as biological ch...

Discover your power, joy, and purpose! If we let others’ expectations dictate our lives, we run the risk of never discovering our true purpose. When we don’t pause to explore our true selves, we can feel stuck and half-alive. Yet the answers to some of our deepest fears and yearnings lie just inside the quiet of the soul. There is immense power and wisdom to be found within our own intuition and t...

Anxiety. It's a powerful force that can take hold of us and control every aspect of our lives. Anxiety, which is a form of fear, can be very sneaky. It often surfaces slowly, and before we know it, we feel anxious as we wake up and throughout the day. We often go to sleep feeling anxious and even experience heavy anxiety in our dreams. As the world becomes more unsettled and stressful, general anx...

Love. Music. Passion. Creative Genius. Chronic Depression. Success. Those who live with chronic depression are often deeply misunderstood. Recent research shows that nearly 1 in 5 of those 18 and older in the U.S. have reported suffering from depression. Although we’re making strides in the destigmatization of mental health issues, silent struggles continue behind the scenes. By having honest conv...

We often have secret dreams that we want to pursue but are fearful taking the next step. All too often, we find ourselves on a path in life that others chose for us--or that we accepted by default. In our desire to gain approval, acceptance, and love, we sometimes do what is "right" for others but not for ourselves. In this process, we get stuck and lose our own way. Yet the mere the idea of creat...

 Discover the Joy Factor! Boost your mental health and improve your resilience through the practice of summoning joy. The negativity bias—the natural, protective tendency for a bad experience to take more of our attention than good or neutral experiences—prevents us from learning from and embracing our positive experiences. We can learn to create a nurturing, safe internal sanctuary by learning to...

Parenting is challenging, and as hard as we try to avoid making mistakes, we muck it up sometimes. Even when our hearts are in the right place, it’s tough to be a parent sometimes. The huge challenges in today’s busy world can bring a layer of chaos and confusion into the happiest of homes. If you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or downright hopeless at times, you’re not alone. Dr. Carla is joined by...

Toxic positivity can erode our mental, emotional, and physical health. When we feel forced to appear happy, even when we're exhausted, sad, or crumbling inside--the consequences can be devastating. In a world where perfectly curated images constantly tell us that we should be happy, upbeat, and smiling despite life's natural ups and downs, it's important to embrace ALL of our feelings--as "imperfe...

It's easy to get out of balance. All too often we get stuck in a cycle of giving too much to work, family, and necessary tasks with no true way to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy ourselves. Dr. Carla and creativity expert Dr. Vanessa S. O'Neal dive into the joy and balance that await us when we embrace our innate creative energy. The joy of creativity isn't just for a select few; we all have the powe...

Sex and sexual intimacy can bring couples together or tear them apart. Our sex lives are rarely perfect, but, as imperfect humans, we often feel anxious about discussing this important aspect of our romantic lives. With loving candor and empathy, Dr. Carla dives right into the heart of why sexual intimacy issues arise and how you can resolve them with empathy, understanding, and imperfect love. Fr...

Afraid of failure? Tired of not getting it "right"? The idea of failure looms dark and large in our heads and hearts. We tend to avoid failure at any cost--even when our fear of failure keeps us stuck and unfulfilled. What if failure could be turned upside down or inside out to become a positive rather than a negative? What if failure--as part of being naturally imperfect--could be a friend and al...

Narcissists! Given the masks they wear, you often can't spot a narcissist until you're knee-deep in the relationship. Sadly, a relationship with a true narcissist can be extremely toxic and challenging. Those who suffer from narcissist personality disorder (NPD) are secretly terrified of engaging in emotionally connected relationships. Although often successful in the material and superficial real...

If you're suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, or obsessive thoughts, you're not alone! Anxiety can get the better of us and lead to downward spirals in mental, emotional, and physical health. In today's often stressful world, anxiety-related disorders are on the rise, leaving many people feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Dr. David Hanscom , surgeon and anxiety expert, joins Dr. Carla for...

Betrayal takes many forms, but all of them can be exceedingly painful. Sadly, we are sometimes betrayed by the very people we count on most to love us, protect us, and care for us. As difficult as it is to bear any type of betrayal, infidelity by a partner can be the most devastating of all. Whether a partner has engaged in a sexual affair, emotional betrayal, financial deception, or other act of...

Life isn't perfect, and sometimes we get lost along the way--or never had the opportunity to find our authentic selves. This uplifting episode is devoted to helping you embrace simple strategies for reclaiming (or discovering for the first time) your amazing, true self. From giving yourself room for self-reflection to carving out a sacred spot for solo time, join Dr. Carla and Erika Kotite on the...