Making Change

Self-Help

A Hidden Reason You’re Not Happy—Even When Life’s Great

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on December 9, 2025

Feeling off despite a full life? You may be avoiding parts of yourself. Compassionate self-awareness restores connection, safety, and authenticity.

Feeling off despite a full life? You may be avoiding parts of yourself. Compassionate self-awareness restores connection, safety, and authenticity.

Self-Talk

Turn Self-Criticism Into Self-Compassion: A Path to Healing

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on October 7, 2025

Your inner critic doesn’t have to define you. Learn how to shift self-doubt into compassion and begin a journey of healing and self-love.

Your inner critic doesn’t have to define you. Learn how to shift self-doubt into compassion and begin a journey of healing and self-love.

Relationships

The Transformative Power of Love

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on September 9, 2025

The right partner can help shape you into your best self. Discover how the Michelangelo effect transforms love into growth—for both you and your relationship.

The right partner can help shape you into your best self. Discover how the Michelangelo effect transforms love into growth—for both you and your relationship.

Self-Esteem

The Self-Esteem Trap: Why Chasing Confidence Fails

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on July 15, 2025

Tired of the self-esteem rollercoaster? Discover why chasing confidence backfires—and how compassionate self-awareness can give you unshakeable self-worth.

Tired of the self-esteem rollercoaster? Discover why chasing confidence backfires—and how compassionate self-awareness can give you unshakeable self-worth.

Relationships

This 6-Step Listening Technique Can Save Your Relationship

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on June 3, 2025

Want a stronger, more connected relationship—even during conflict? Discover how active listening can turn tension into trust and help you feel truly heard.

Want a stronger, more connected relationship—even during conflict? Discover how active listening can turn tension into trust and help you feel truly heard.

Marriage

Can a Marriage Survive an Affair?

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on May 7, 2025

An affair can break trust, but it doesn’t have to end a relationship. Learn what real healing takes and whether rebuilding is the right path for you.

An affair can break trust, but it doesn’t have to end a relationship. Learn what real healing takes and whether rebuilding is the right path for you.

Self-Talk

Is Your Inner Critic Controlling You? How to Heal From Within

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on April 8, 2025

Silence your inner critic and reclaim self-worth. Discover how clarifying your inner dialogue and developing compassionate self-awareness can lead to inner peace and healing.

Silence your inner critic and reclaim self-worth. Discover how clarifying your inner dialogue and developing compassionate self-awareness can lead to inner peace and healing.

Rejection Sensitivity

Don't Take It Personally: How to Overcome Rejection Sensitivity

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on March 4, 2025

If you fear rejection, you can overcome it for good. Learn why it happens and how self-awareness can help you build confidence, overcome fear, and embrace relationships fully.

If you fear rejection, you can overcome it for good. Learn why it happens and how self-awareness can help you build confidence, overcome fear, and embrace relationships fully.

Relationships

Limerence: When Infatuation Turns to Obsessive Attraction

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on December 3, 2024

Your infatuation might be the beginning of limerence, which can spiral into obsession, especially for those with anxious attachment. Learn how to move on from the obsession.

Your infatuation might be the beginning of limerence, which can spiral into obsession, especially for those with anxious attachment. Learn how to move on from the obsession.

Relationships

How Love Helps Us Stay Grounded

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on October 23, 2024

Supporting each other through emotional ups and downs can strengthen your bond and build lasting love in your relationship.

Supporting each other through emotional ups and downs can strengthen your bond and build lasting love in your relationship.

Media

Creating a Healthier Relationship With Your Smartphone

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on September 24, 2024

We can improve our lives by renaming our “phones” to match what they really are — digital companions.

We can improve our lives by renaming our “phones” to match what they really are — digital companions.

Relationships

Bridging the Gap: Remaining a Team When You Disagree

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on August 29, 2024

If disagreeing with your partner feels like yelling at a wall, then it’s time to change the way you argue. Start here.

If disagreeing with your partner feels like yelling at a wall, then it’s time to change the way you argue. Start here.

Loneliness

Loneliness Epidemic: How to Heal and Reconnect

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on July 30, 2024

Feeling lonely? Discover how connection can heal and transform your life. Learn practical steps to raise awareness, embrace acceptance, and cultivate empathy and compassion.

Feeling lonely? Discover how connection can heal and transform your life. Learn practical steps to raise awareness, embrace acceptance, and cultivate empathy and compassion.

Online Therapy

Is Virtual Therapy as Effective as In-Person Therapy?

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on June 25, 2024

Deciding whether to do therapy in person or virtually is an important one. Be sure to consider the richness of the interpersonal interactions as you decide.

Deciding whether to do therapy in person or virtually is an important one. Be sure to consider the richness of the interpersonal interactions as you decide.

Anxiety

What Your Relationship Anxiety Is Telling You

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on May 28, 2024

Relationship anxiety is part of our human survival mechanism. By learning to understand it, you can also use it to find happiness within yourself and your relationships.

Relationship anxiety is part of our human survival mechanism. By learning to understand it, you can also use it to find happiness within yourself and your relationships.

Relationships

Embracing Vulnerability: How to Let Love In

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on April 30, 2024

If you are uncomfortable with physical affection, learning to let down your guard and open your heart can be a relationship and life changer.

If you are uncomfortable with physical affection, learning to let down your guard and open your heart can be a relationship and life changer.

Self-Esteem

Empower Yourself With No More "Shoulds"

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on March 21, 2024

By connecting more with what we want to do, rather than to what we “should” do, we will feel more empowered and happier. We can do this with self-awareness and self-talk.

By connecting more with what we want to do, rather than to what we “should” do, we will feel more empowered and happier. We can do this with self-awareness and self-talk.

Relationships

How to Find a Good-for-You Partner

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on February 12, 2024

Increase your chances of romantic success by learning the qualities of a partner who is likely to bring you long-term happiness.

Increase your chances of romantic success by learning the qualities of a partner who is likely to bring you long-term happiness.

Relationships

How to Close the Gap Between You and Your Partner

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on January 8, 2024

Learning to empathize with your partner when you don’t “get” them can help you to feel closer despite your differences.

Learning to empathize with your partner when you don’t “get” them can help you to feel closer despite your differences.

Self-Help

What You Don’t Know About Love and How It Heals

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on December 11, 2023

Personal Perspective: We all have a need to love and be loved. By learning love's basic elements, you can learn to use love to heal.

Personal Perspective: We all have a need to love and be loved. By learning love's basic elements, you can learn to use love to heal.