“Of course I forgive her. She’s my mother. She was doing the best she could. You should hear what grandpa did to her!” “Carly” (a composite client) had just told me how her mother had beaten her. With very little emotion, she’d reported how her mom had used sticks, rulers, and bare hands on her …
Author Archives: Karen
Honest Anger
“I could not believe you didn’t call. You were three hours late last night.” My client, “Ann,” (name and other details changed) shook her fist at her husband, “Allen.” Sitting at the other end of the couch, Allen narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t call because I wasn’t sure I even wanted to come home.” “Well, …
Mine That Feeling
“If I really let myself cry, I’ll never stop.” My college-age client looked out the window as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. I’d been seeing her for several weeks and today, we’d begun to discuss her painful childhood. It was just her and her mom. Her dad had left when …