Published inAbout Me Stories·PinnedMember-onlyAbout Me — Laura Silverstein, LCSWNever too old to stop trying to save the world! — Here’s who I am and what I’m working on in 2021! About Me I’m a perpetual student. My absolute best teachers are my children, my amazing husband, my parents, and every single one of my clients. I remember the day I saw my very first client in January of 1988. She was…About Me3 min readAbout Me3 min read
Feb 19, 2022Member-onlyHow to Embrace Positivity in Your RelationshipWithout sounding phony, inauthentic or sarcastic — I’m sure you’ve heard of the power of positive thinking. Positive Psychology is a very real thing. The more you focus on positivity, the more good stuff you see all around you. The more you focus on negativity, you guessed it, the more annoyances you see. You’ve probably heard the…Love4 min readLove4 min read
Published inBetter Humans·Oct 14, 2021Member-onlyWhy People Engage in Small Talk Even Though They Hate ItNew social psychology research shows us how to avoid awkward conversations with strangers — I was at a wedding this weekend. It was a gorgeous ceremony on the top of a hill overlooking an expansive mountain range. We all processed up the path, Mama Mia style, following a bagpiper leading the way. …Life Lessons5 min readLife Lessons5 min read
Published inHello, Love·Jul 21, 2021Member-onlyMaybe I Just Don’t Like You That MuchSo why am I worried you’re mad at me? — Are you talking about me behind my back? Am I paranoid and self-absorbed? I can’t help wondering if there’s a little edge to your voice. It feels like you’re distancing yourself, but it’s hard to know for sure. I suppose I could ask you, but I don’t think we’re close…Friendship4 min readFriendship4 min read
Published inFor Awe·Jul 14, 2021Member-onlyI Did an Experiment, and The Results are In; Coffee Can’t Cure Grief(And neither does time.) — I arrived at work 20 minutes early, hoping to get some paperwork done, return emails, and have a third cup of coffee. My office is a hot mess littered with piles of paperwork that I’ve been planning to sort through “once Covid is over,” whatever that means. But instead, I…Awe4 min readAwe4 min read
Published inHello, Love·Jul 11, 2021Member-onlyGive Up These 5 Things For a Happier RelationshipIt’s easier than you think. — You know that feeling of freedom when your relationship is going well? Your mind is at rest, and you feel comfortable in your own skin and happy just to be together. Giving up is often the thing that brings you the joy you deserve. A happy relationship is void of…Relationships3 min readRelationships3 min read
Jul 10, 2021Member-only27 Science-Backed Questions to Assess Your Relationship Right NowAsked by a certified couples therapist. — When my couples therapy clients come to me for their assessment, their worst fear is that I’m going to tell them their relationship is doomed. This is never true. First off, I am much more diplomatic than that. But even more importantly, it’s up to you, not me, whether or…Love4 min readLove4 min read
Published inRelationships 101·Jul 9, 2021Member-onlyWhat’s Your Love Language?#1 Words of affirmation. — Do you remember Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Love Languages? It was originally published in 1992 but today is still ranked #1 on Amazon in 3 categories (love, marriage, and relationships). I grabbed it off the shelf yesterday and started re-reading. Chapman puts forth the concept that falling in love…Love5 min readLove5 min read
Published inHello, Love·Jul 5, 2021Member-onlyStop Wasting Time on Stupid Fights and Bad CommunicationDelight in your relationship by avoiding these 2 common mistakes. — Carson: “I can’t believe we’re having this fight again.” Jamie: “Seriously. All you have to do is talk to me respectfully and we wouldn’t be wasting yet another gorgeous Sunday afternoon fighting.” Carson: “What? You’re blaming me for this? How on earth am I supposed to respond when you accuse…Relationships7 min readRelationships7 min read
Jun 24, 2021Member-onlyNot Having Fun in Your Relationship?Here’s How to Fix It — Great communication, intimacy, trust, and commitment are all roads that lead back to the same goal: to enjoy a lifetime adventure together. A successful relationship isn’t the absence of pain; it’s the presence of joy. So often, people with the best intentions understand that “relationships are hard work,” and they…Relationships4 min readRelationships4 min read