The Art of Feeling

Relationships

4 Tips for Making Difficult Conversations Easier

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on October 6, 2024

No one looks forward to having a difficult conversation with their partner. But if you approach them correctly, you can make them a bit easier—and more fruitful.

No one looks forward to having a difficult conversation with their partner. But if you approach them correctly, you can make them a bit easier—and more fruitful.

Emotions

How to Turn Your Emotional Sensitivity Into a Strength

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on October 1, 2024

People who feel "too much" often get put down or pathologized. But emotional sensitivity can be a strength, even a profound gift, if you embrace it and know how to use it.

People who feel "too much" often get put down or pathologized. But emotional sensitivity can be a strength, even a profound gift, if you embrace it and know how to use it.

Relationships

How to Handle Emotional Triggers

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on August 12, 2024

Getting emotionally triggered in a relationship is a common, if not universal, experience. It's how you handle it that matters.

Getting emotionally triggered in a relationship is a common, if not universal, experience. It's how you handle it that matters.

Relationships

Emotional Safety: What It Is and Why It’s Important

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on January 16, 2023

What does it mean to feel “emotionally safe”? How do you know when you feel it—and when you don’t? And why does it matter so much?

What does it mean to feel “emotionally safe”? How do you know when you feel it—and when you don’t? And why does it matter so much?

Resilience

What Fuses and Washing Machines Can Teach About Emotional Resilience

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on November 17, 2022

Personal perspective: Like the car insurance commercial says, there are times when life comes at you hard and fast. How can you become more emotionally resilient? These metaphors may help.

Personal perspective: Like the car insurance commercial says, there are times when life comes at you hard and fast. How can you become more emotionally resilient? These metaphors may help.

Meditation

Focusing: A Step Beyond Mindfulness Meditation

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on August 26, 2022

Mindfulness involves observing all your thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally and compassionately. But "focusing" takes further steps to heal what’s distressed within us.

Mindfulness involves observing all your thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally and compassionately. But "focusing" takes further steps to heal what’s distressed within us.

Trust

When You Shouldn't Trust What Your Feelings Are Telling You

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on July 22, 2022

There’s a difference between distressing feelings and highly judgmental and self-critical “thought-driven emotions” that do more harm than good. Here’s what you can do about them.

There’s a difference between distressing feelings and highly judgmental and self-critical “thought-driven emotions” that do more harm than good. Here’s what you can do about them.

Attention

When Feelings Drive You to Distraction, Turn Toward Them

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on June 22, 2022

Do you always try to ignore, override or “correct” the feelings you don’t think you “should” have? Try something different: accepting and listening to them.

Do you always try to ignore, override or “correct” the feelings you don’t think you “should” have? Try something different: accepting and listening to them.

Fear

An Antidote for "It Sucks to Be Me"

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on May 20, 2022

Nothing’s more human than occasionally feeling like “it sucks to be me.” How can you change those self-pitying feelings into true self-compassion?

Nothing’s more human than occasionally feeling like “it sucks to be me.” How can you change those self-pitying feelings into true self-compassion?

Neuroscience

6 Things You Might Not Know About Emotions

Helene Brenner, Ph.D., and Larry Letich, LCSW-C on April 26, 2022

If you want to find out what’s bothering you, motivating you, or getting in your way, you need to find out what you’re feeling.

If you want to find out what’s bothering you, motivating you, or getting in your way, you need to find out what you’re feeling.