Do you struggle with setting healthy boundaries?

In this month’s Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT shares with us a tip on how to create effective boundaries with those around you to help protect your peace!

When you lay your head down at night do you ever find yourself wondering what your purpose or meaning is in life?

Maybe your life path didn’t go as planned or you find yourself no longer passionate about the same things you once did when you were younger.

Finding purpose and meaning in life is not just about grand revelations or cosmic alignments. It’s about rolling up your sleeves, diving into what makes you tick and having a little fun along the way. 

Do you ever have a bad day and struggle with how to not let your mood effect everyone you come into contact with?

Maybe you feel scared, anxious, depressed or even angry over something that happened and struggle with how to overcome those negative emotions.

In this month’s Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT provides a tool on how to implement self care into your daily routine which can help especially when you are experiencing a difficult day!

Let’s dive into a topic that many might shy away from – intimacy in relationships, and the unique challenges it presents when chronic pain enters the picture. 

Intimacy is a vital element that weaves emotional connections and mutual fulfillment into the fabric of a relationship. But what happens when chronic pain becomes an uninvited guest? That’s what I’m here to help you better understand!

Let’s explore the complexities and discover ways to maintain that deep connection despite the challenges.

Do you go out of your way to help your partner feel thought of, loved and supported?

If not; you may not be putting in the time and effort to nurture your relationship.

In this month’s Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT shares with us the importance of intentionality in your relationship!

Have you noticed a decrease in your sex life as you’ve gotten older? Maybe the intimacy with your partner has taken a backseat now that you’ve been together a long time or you just haven’t prioritized it like you once have.

Sex does not need to stop when you get older. Many people assume that it does, or that desire eventually fades, but that could not be further from the truth.

Have you found over time that your physical touch with your partner has started to decline? Maybe you've found yourself stuck in the role of mom/dad and you haven't prioritized your partner. Or maybe the daily grind has made it so you aren't investing time back into your relationship to create the need for physical touch with one another.

In this month's Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT shares the "gears of touch" and how it can help improve your intimacy with your partner!

Do you ever notice your emotions get the best of you when confronted with conflict?

 It’s easy to get lost in your reaction or emotional response to things that sometimes it can be difficult to reflect on what’s truly happening in the present.

Mindfulness can be a useful way to reflect on the present moment.

Are you afraid to speak to your loved ones about how difficult the world can feel at times? Maybe you are having troubles processing your feelings regarding current events happening in the world.

Between racism, violence and natural occurrences that effect large numbers of people, it can feel difficult to find the words to express how these major events make you feel.

Have you ever felt disconnected from your partner? 

Feeling more physically connected can be a bridge to improving that emotional connection as well, and a lot of times, the physicality in a relationship can be a lot less daunting than the emotional. 

Are your reactions to your partner based on assumptions you may have from them based on past behavior?

In this month's Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT explains why making assumptions about your partner based on past behavior may hinder the progress made toward improving your relationship!

Do you struggle with self esteem issues?

 I personally love working with self esteem clients. It is hard work, of course, but there is something so lovely about watching people realize how amazing they are and feel better and more confident about themselves. It’s one of my favorite things to work on!

Change is something that is inevitable, whether it be expected or unexpected, but how you cope with that change can make the world of a difference! 

I don’t know about you but change can be scary for lots of people! In fact many people find that change can elicit a number of reactions mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

Do you struggle with how to bring up the topic of sex with your partner without hurting their feelings or starting an argument?

In this month's Therapy Moment, Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT gives us some tips on how, when and where to bring up the topic of sex so you can effectively discuss the topic with your partner and address what you like or dislike when being intimate with one another.

Have you ever felt like your relationship suffered due to a betrayal or lie that you told? Maybe it was a small fib or it could have been something much bigger that you felt like you’d never recover from.

Whether it was one lie, a slew of them or an affair, the concept of dishonesty is present in all relationships, so know you are not alone!

I know how difficult it can be for a relationship to bounce back after a lie has been discovered. 

Have you ever noticed your heart rate increase or your body temperature change whenever you go through a distressing situation?

I know I certainly have!

It can be something as simple as anger or anxiety that causes your internal body chemistry to change. Or maybe it’s feelings of panic or sadness that seem to overcome you.

Whatever it happens to be, with all of the ups and downs of the past year, it’s no wonder a lot of people feel as if they are struggling to find ways to navigate their moments of distress.

Couples often begin therapy because they feel like their sexual intimacy is in a rut. They complain that they have grown apart, that they are not feeling loved, or that they do not feel important to their partner. They worry that they will never return to how they “once were” early on in their relationship and question how to rebuild their sexual intimacy after what feels like a dry spell.

Arguments and disagreements happen! But they don't all need to be painful or keep you stuck. There are effective way to resolve arguments with your partner? Check out this video from Solid Foundations therapist Robyn Ashbaugh, ALMFT where she talks about one helpful tip to make conflicts with your significant other more productive and help you reach resolution quickly.