Seven Signs Resentment May Be Building

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft Oh my, relationships in the beginning stages can be wonderful! Simply looking at your potential partner is a delight, and conversations never seemed so deep and meaningful. That elusive...

Stressed Out? This May Help

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft Many people use the terms “stress” and “pressure” interchangeably. Even dictionary definitions don’t help a whole in drawing distinctions between the two. But if you think about how...

Recognizing That Even Twins Are Individuals

Family Counseling Insights brought to you by Patricia McTague-Loft As if parenting weren’t hard enough, Nature seems to laugh quietly every time a pair of twins are born into the world. Ah, double the fun and… double the trouble. Unsuspecting parents are gradually...

The Evolution of Talk Therapy

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft Ever since Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung offered their somewhat competing theories of psychoanalysis at the beginning of the 20th century, people in general have been following the latest...

Postpartum Depression Is Real

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft Are you pretty good at spotting a new Mom? You know — she’s the young woman who looks like she hasn’t slept in days, giggles for no reason and then suddenly runs off with a frantic...

When Emotions Overwhelm Clear Thinking

Marriage Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft  It’s nice to think of ourselves as thoughtful, rational beings who respond to stressful situations with careful consideration. Now, welcome back to reality. We may be thoughtful and...

Better Than Speed Reading

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft Do you remember Reader’s Digest Magazine? Decades ago you could find it on the racks of nearly every grocery store checkout aisle. The Digest is actually still around, but in the digital...

Letting Go Is More Than Moving On

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft  If we’re being honest with ourselves, we probably have to admit that we don’t like change. Change is scary; things can go wrong. The problem is that change is necessary and good, even if...

A Small (But Important) Matter of Focus

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft  Whether you’re working or socializing, focusing on what you’re doing is almost always a good idea. If you’re working, focus virtually guarantees improved job performance. If you’re...

Death Is Inevitable. Fearing It Is Not.

Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft In the natural world, cause and effect is not always clear cut. We see an effect and wonder why something is happening. For a striking example that is continuously unfolding today, look...