Peaceful Parenting

Empathy

How to Stop Being a Fixer

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on May 27, 2023

These five tips will help you empathize instead of advise.

These five tips will help you empathize instead of advise.

Anxiety

Turn Social Anxiety Into an Emotionally Intelligent Tool

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on May 21, 2023

Social awareness is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. Although it is a gift, it may also be the reason for a wave of anxiety.

Social awareness is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. Although it is a gift, it may also be the reason for a wave of anxiety.

Guilt

Victim Mentality or Vulnerability? 3 Ways to Tell

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on April 24, 2023

People who play the victim may inflict guilt, use a past hardship to justify a current wrongdoing, and shift the blame. A person who is vulnerable does the opposite.

People who play the victim may inflict guilt, use a past hardship to justify a current wrongdoing, and shift the blame. A person who is vulnerable does the opposite.

Narcissism

6 Things a Narcissistic Partner May Never Say

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on April 8, 2023

A partner who fails to respond in six ways may not be emotionally intelligent or emotionally safe. Understand why and protect yourself.

A partner who fails to respond in six ways may not be emotionally intelligent or emotionally safe. Understand why and protect yourself.

Narcissism

4 Types of Toxic Friends

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on March 26, 2023

Know how to safely navigate emotionally unsafe and emotionally intelligent friends.

Know how to safely navigate emotionally unsafe and emotionally intelligent friends.

Bullying

What to Do When Your Work Friend Turns Out to Be Toxic

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on March 14, 2023

Recognize the red flags early and implement several specific strategies to protect yourself.

Recognize the red flags early and implement several specific strategies to protect yourself.

Empathy

3 Ways a Partner Displays a Lack of Empathy

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on February 28, 2023

A partner is the one person who is supposed to understand you. A resistance to considering how you feel when it differs from how they feel may signify a lack of empathy.

A partner is the one person who is supposed to understand you. A resistance to considering how you feel when it differs from how they feel may signify a lack of empathy.

Empathy

Key Early Red Flags of an Emotionally Unavailable Partner

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on February 26, 2023

Positive attention and love-bombing are different from empathy and emotional attunement.

Positive attention and love-bombing are different from empathy and emotional attunement.

Narcissism

How to Help Your Child When a Co-parent Plays Favorites

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on January 23, 2023

3 strategies can help a parent assist a child who is involved with a narcissistic co-parent who plays favorites.

3 strategies can help a parent assist a child who is involved with a narcissistic co-parent who plays favorites.

Narcissism

Playing Favorites Gives a Narcissistic Co-Parent Control

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on January 16, 2023

A narcissist manipulates the kids after a divorce by playing the victim and using favoritism. The kids rush to their side to offer protection and are manipulated in the process.

A narcissist manipulates the kids after a divorce by playing the victim and using favoritism. The kids rush to their side to offer protection and are manipulated in the process.

Empathy

How Examining a Bad Habit Can Change Your Life

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on December 31, 2022

Hard-to-change bad habits may have their roots in a painful childhood. Taking a closer look and introspecting could help someone break the habit for good.

Hard-to-change bad habits may have their roots in a painful childhood. Taking a closer look and introspecting could help someone break the habit for good.

Narcissism

How Narcissists Gain Emotional Control With Micro-Abandonments

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on December 29, 2022

Using unconscious defense mechanisms, a narcissist may gain an inordinate amount of control over a partner.

Using unconscious defense mechanisms, a narcissist may gain an inordinate amount of control over a partner.

Anxiety

2 Reasons Overthinking May Be in Overdrive

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on November 27, 2022

The tendency to self-reflect, combined with two specific stressors, may cause an increase in overthinking.

The tendency to self-reflect, combined with two specific stressors, may cause an increase in overthinking.

Empathy

3 Ways to Tell When Someone Is Playing the Victim

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on November 26, 2022

It's critical to be an empathic listener. Yet there are some people who will abuse your time and emotional energy. These three concepts may help.

It's critical to be an empathic listener. Yet there are some people who will abuse your time and emotional energy. These three concepts may help.

Parenting

3 Things Emotionally Intelligent Parents Do

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on October 30, 2022

A parent who is too soft may raise an entitled child, but a harsh parent may inflict scars.

A parent who is too soft may raise an entitled child, but a harsh parent may inflict scars.

Jealousy

3 Ways Narcissism Fuels Jealousy in Relationships

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on October 19, 2022

Jealousy is a common and, in some cases, favorable sign for a relationship, but a partner who reacts in these ways may be unable to cope with it in a functional way.

Jealousy is a common and, in some cases, favorable sign for a relationship, but a partner who reacts in these ways may be unable to cope with it in a functional way.

Narcissism

How to Spot a Narcissist in Public

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on September 25, 2022

Three overarching tendencies in public may reveal a narcissistic nature.

Three overarching tendencies in public may reveal a narcissistic nature.

Relationships

The Conflict Avoidant: Two Distinct Types

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on September 12, 2022

Two types of conflict-avoidant people may exist. The first is a person involved with a partner who cannot perspective-take. The second may be a person wishing to evade accountability.

Two types of conflict-avoidant people may exist. The first is a person involved with a partner who cannot perspective-take. The second may be a person wishing to evade accountability.

Narcissism

The 3 Types of Narcissists

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on August 28, 2022

Although narcissists have relational deficiencies in common, they may belong to three categories: funny, nice, and angry. Understanding each style can protect people from manipulation.

Although narcissists have relational deficiencies in common, they may belong to three categories: funny, nice, and angry. Understanding each style can protect people from manipulation.

Narcissism

How Narcissism Affects Romantic Attachment

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on August 14, 2022

A narcissist often mistakes control for closeness. He or she may gain emotional control of a partner using three tactics: idealizing/devaluing, emotional abandonment, and guilt.

A narcissist often mistakes control for closeness. He or she may gain emotional control of a partner using three tactics: idealizing/devaluing, emotional abandonment, and guilt.