Imperfect Love

Join Dr. Carla and seasoned burnout expert Janice Litvin who will give us well-honed tools to help us stop burnout in its tracks--and move forward in healthy ways. Topics discussed include self-awareness, self-care, burnout, stress, journaling, intergenerational patterns, family dynamics, work environment, work, bosses, human resources, support, full-time caregivers, stay-at-home parents, full-tim...

We often hear about the "fight - flight" response, that instinctive reaction to a fear-inducing situation. In fact, you've likely witnessed or responded to an actual or perceived threat with protective aggression or a fearful escape. Yet two other hardwired responses--freezing and fawning--are also part of our instinctual repertoire. And while such responses are intended to keep us safe and alive...

Are you trapped in negative relationship cycles that make you feel stuck and even a little crazy? Do you and your partner have toxic patterns--bouts of fighting, shutting down, or tuning out--that leave you feeling upset, unheard, and unloved? Although we often expect our intimate relationships to be naturally healthy and smooth, unhealthy dynamics can take over--or be present even from the start....

Feelings of jealousy and envy often bring up a sense of shame or insecurity. Yet both jealousy and envy arise even in early childhood as we vie for parents' attention, desire a sibling's toy, or jockey for a positions in friend groups. And, as feelings of romantic love come into our lives, it's the big emotion of jealousy than can have a way of creeping deeper into our relationships. If left unche...

Do you struggle with co-dependency? Is there a narcissist in your life whose abusive tactics are eroding your joy, self-confidence, and energy? Unfortunately, issues like these are widespread in today's world, and they affect people of all ages and genders. And given the prevalence of both narcissistic abuse and co-dependency, it's likely that you or someone you know has encountered--or currently...

We often believe that we should naturally have healthy habits that help us be our best selves. We expect ourselves to automatically know how to care for ourselves in ways that will make us look and feel as close to "perfect" as possible. Yet, in real life, most of our habits are learned and formed unconsciously--often early in life as a response to family dynamics and other forces below our radar....

Anxiety can creep into our minds, bodies, and lives in the sneakiest of ways. From chronic bouts of anxious thoughts to full blown panic attacks, anxiety can wreak on our internal and external worlds. And although we often think that we should be able to conquer anxiety just by pushing it away or taking a prescription pill, I've found, as a clinical psychologist, that anxiety tends to get worse--...

Women are often expected to play nice, serve others, and do as they are told with a big smile. And if a woman learns to stand up for herself, she's often described as aggressive, controlling, or worse – simply for stating her opinions or tending to her needs. As a clinical psychologist and woman, I've found that an abundance of societal and cultural factors contributes to the limitation and erosio...

If you're a pet lover, it's natural to want your fur baby to be around forever. Even the thought of losing your animal best friend--a source of constant companionship, unconditional love, and joy--can be tough. And when that end does come, the pain can be truly heart wrenching and even immobilizing. From personal and professional experience, I've found that the loss of a pet--and the grieving proc...

Are you securely attached? Do you generally feel safe, at ease, and emotionally connected in your intimate relationships? If not, there's a good chance that you struggle with issues related to insecure attachment—often known as avoidant, disorganized, and anxious attachment styles. But take heart; if you’re wrestling with attachment issues, trust that it’s not your fault–your attachment style was...

Every daughter wants a loving, close relationship with her mom. Yet, in real life, sometimes the mother-daughter relationship is fabulous, sometimes it's so-so, and sometimes it is downright horrible. And in cases where a mother engages in controlling, narcissistic, or other abusive behaviors, the cost to the daughter can be exceedingly high. The road to recovery--to discovering or reclaiming your...

We often expect love and relationships to be easy--and perfect--but the best of relationships are much like a bountiful garden that needs regular doses of tender loving care. And, like the weeds that can strangle and overtake a healthy garden, issues such as blame, resentment, and chronic conflict can ruin even the most promising relationship. Over time, I've come to see that imperfections are a n...

Do you know what magical action has the power to boost your mood, bolster your immune system, banish stress, lessen pain, and foster connection? If you guessed "laughter," you're on target. Research consistently shows that laughter truly is one of life's best medicines, yet our stress-filled lives tend to leave little space for self-care and the healing power that laughing brings. And especially i...

We often believe that our given family--the ones we are connected to by birth--should be our greatest friends and allies. And it's normal for us to expect our family members to love us and keep us safe. Yet, in real life, many people discover that negative family dynamics affect them in the most troubling ways. If this resonates, you may have experienced the deep pain of feeling outcast or isolate...

Money. Hard work. Privilege. Inheritance. Entitlement. Motivation. Success. All of these words can bring up a host of thoughts and feelings. Some of them tend to have positive connotations, yet many of them are super-charged with negativity. Shows such as "Succession" have brought fresh attention to the realm of the uber wealthy and the dramatic flavor of issues such as family feuds, excess, sibli...

Soul Statements: A Love-Filled Tool for Creating Healthy Communication and Deeper Intimacy Do you feel like your partner doesn't hear you? Is communication a major stumbling block in your intimate relationships? From Dr. Carla’s experience and loads of research, she has found that communication struggles cause tremendous (and unnecessary) disconnection and hurtful ruptures. Could a few minor shift...

Do you feel like you're the victim of ageism? Or--whether you're 30, 40, 50, or beyond–that you are too old to make your dreams come true? In Dr. Carla's work with thousands of people (as well as her own life journey), she has found that fears about aging can creep into our minds and cause anxiety and immobilizing self-doubt. And, as the benefits of youth are overemphasized in societies around the...

How to Craft the Love Relationship of Your Dreams Are you feeling stuck in a dead-end relationship? Do you want more in your romantic life but are afraid to let go of what you have? From a lack of sex or emotional intimacy to ongoing conflict, issues often arise in relationships that leave one or both partners feeling distressed. And in my work with individuals and couples, I've found that many pe...

Do you tend to procrastinate or have other habits that work against you? Do you want to have stronger willpower? As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Carla has found that most of us have at least a few hardwired habits that keep us from being our best selves and living our best lives. So, whether you're feeling defeated by broken resolutions or stressed by a habit that keeps you feeling stuck, she can...

Do you believe in miracles? Does the idea of manifestation seem real and within your reach, or does it sound more like an impossibility? Can a positive mindset make a powerful difference in helping your dreams come true? From my experience, I believe you can learn to manifest–to foster your potential and abundance–by tuning into your personal idea of prosperity. Of course, the process of manifesta...

Do you feel as if life is passing you by as you rush through one day after another, missing the glimmers that make it worthwhile? I've found that many people feel as if they are barely living – they wake up, work, eat, and sleep – a hum-drum cycle that is repeated joylessly day after day. And, if you add pressure, stress, anxiety–and more stress – into the mix, life can feel purposeless and overwh...

Are you hungering to discover your soulmate, twin flame, or a dream-come-true partner to be your lover and best friend? Do you struggle with finding a romantic partner who feels attractive, compatible, and real? If so, you're in the company of millions of souls around the world who yearn to find lasting–if naturally imperfect–love. What are the secrets to finding your ideal mate?  Today, join...

Improve Your Body Image with Self-Compassion and Self-Love When you look in the mirror, do you love the reflection you see, or do you pick parts of yourself to pieces–or even your entire physical being? Do you dislike–or even loathe–the body that is your home? In today's hypercritical, perfection-oriented world, your body image–and capacity to love yourself–might be suffering from silent compariso...

Bring Lasting Love, Intimacy, and Joy into Your Romantic Relationship! Romantic relationships! We love them, sometimes we hate them, and in many cases, we just put up with them. We are told that romance should be easy, but heart-connected relationships require loads of devotion and mindful effort. While there isn't a magical cure for relationship blues, there are steps we can each take to create a...

It's time to break free from fear and step into the power of your authentic self. Do you constantly read others to see if you're loved, safe, or seen? Do you feel anxious and emotionally compromised to the point where you feel unimportant, stuck, or chronically dissatisfied? We often settle for situations–and relationships–that work against our mental, spiritual, and physical well-being because we...