The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2014) defines a traumatic event as “an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being” (p. 7). Typically, when […]

“A mother should know exactly what her child needs.” “A husband should be able to provide for his family.” “I should not be acting like this.”  “I should be able to just get over it.”  Frequently in sessions, and for those not even in therapy, “should” statements are a common occurrence. More often than not, these statements result in stress, […]