If you are navigating a divorce in Indiana and it feels less like a legal process and more like a psychological war zone, you are likely dealing with a high-conflict personality. When a partner exhibits narcissistic traits, such as a profound lack of empathy, a chronic need for admiration, and a "win-at-all-costs" mentality, the traditional advice to "just cooperate for the kids" can feel impossible.    At Think Well Live Well Counseling , we understand that divorcing a narci

If I had a dollar for every time someone walked into my office, or logged onto a telehealth session, and said, "I want to feel better, but I can’t talk about what happened," I would be a wealthy woman. But more importantly, if I had a dollar for every time I told them, " That is okay. You don’t have to, " I would be a happy one. There is a pervasive myth in our culture that healing requires a confession. We are taught that to "process" trauma, we must detail every painful, hu

The Core Narrative: Moving Beyond the Weekly Recap For many, the initial experience of therapy feels like a breath of fresh air. There is a profound relief in having a dedicated hour to unload the burdens of the week. However, for a significant percentage of clients, that initial relief eventually gives way to a nagging suspicion that they are simply "paying for a friend". They find themselves repeating the same stories, receiving the same "oh wows" from their therapist, and

Why You Can’t Just "Leave": The Science of the Trauma Bond Have you ever felt like you were addicted to a person who treats you poorly? One day they are the love of your life; the next, they are cold, critical, or gaslighting you. This "emotional rollercoaster" isn't just bad luck in dating, it’s a physical and psychological phenomenon called a trauma bond. While it feels like love, your brain is actually caught in a cycle of intermittent reinforcement. This creates a powerfu

Have you ever opened an invoice from your therapist, what we call a "superbill", and felt a sudden jolt of panic? You scan past your name and the date, and your eyes land on a cold, clinical code:  F41.1 . Next to it, in stark black and white, are the words: Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Wait, you think. Is that me? Is this on my permanent record? I thought I was just processing a tough breakup or work stress…do I have a "disorder"? Take a deep breath. Let’s pause. If you’re

There is a specific moment I hear about constantly in my practice during December. It’s the moment you get back to your car after the family dinner, or the moment the last guest leaves your house. The door closes. The silence hits. And you don’t just feel tired. You feel hollow. You spent the last six hours smiling, nodding, refilling drinks, de-escalating awkward political conversations, and ensuring everyone else had a "magical" time. You were the perfect host, the perfect

We need to stop using the word "Stress." It’s too vague. It’s too polite. "Stress" is what you feel when you are running late for a meeting. What you feel during the holidays is something else entirely. It’s a tightness in your chest. It’s the urge to hide in the bathroom. It’s the feeling that you are one passive-aggressive comment away from exploding. If you find yourself dreading the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year," you aren't a Grinch. You are likely battling one of the

As the holidays approach, I start hearing a very specific kind of fatigue from my clients.Not just tired. Not just stressed.I mean bone deep exhaustion. It is the exhaustion that comes from a brain running a constant threat scan.Like having 100 browser tabs open, all playing different videos at once. And the moment you step through the door of your childhood home, this exhaustion hits like a wave. You can be a CEO, a parent, a therapist, a leader.But ten minutes in your fami

Have you ever felt magnetically pulled toward a partner who seems to be the source of both your deepest pain and your only relief? Do you feel less like a partner and more like a permanent "Rescuer"? In my practice, I often hear survivors describe a level of fatigue that sleep can’t touch. We call it "bone-deep exhaustion." It’s the feeling of a brain that is constantly scanning for threats—like a browser with 100 tabs open, all playing different videos at once. Recently, I s

How to reclaim your peace, starve a narcissist of supply, and navigate high-conflict co-parenting . The Exhaustion You Feel Is Real (And It's By Design) Have you ever felt magnetically pulled toward a person who is the source of your deepest pain? Does the world sometimes feel unreal, as if you're watching a movie of your own life, with the line between your inner thoughts and the outside world starting to blur? If you're reading this, you likely know the bone-deep exhaustion

Ever feel like your brain is a browser with 100 tabs open, all playing different videos at once? The to-do lists, the worries, the mental chatter—it can feel impossible to find the off switch. When stress takes over, it hijacks your focus, your mood, and even your physical body, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. What if you could hit a reset button? Not in an hour, or even thirty minutes, but in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Good news: you can. Top

One day, they shower you with affection, making you feel like the center of their universe. The next, a minor disagreement triggers a cold rage that leaves you feeling confused, small, and questioning your own reality. If this dizzying cycle feels familiar, you know the profound exhaustion of being in a relationship with someone who may have narcissistic traits. The term "narcissist" is frequently used in popular culture to describe anyone who seems vain or self-centered. How

You've made the brave decision to start EMDR therapy. You’ve heard it can be incredibly effective for processing trauma, anxiety, and deeply held negative beliefs. But as your first session approaches, one big question might be looping in your mind: What am I supposed to notice? It’s a perfect question. Many people worry they might "do it wrong" or not experience what they're "supposed" to. First, let's get one thing out of the way. As a therapist, I can assure you: There is

It’s the cruelest irony of the night. The moment you need your brain to be quiet, it decides to throw a rave. The red numbers on the clock glow—3:17 AM—and you’re wide awake. Your mind is a whirlwind of to-do lists, replayed conversations, and what-if scenarios. You know you need to sleep, but the more you stress about it, the more alert you become. If you’re tired of losing sleep to a racing mind, you’re in the right place. Forget counting sheep. We’re going to explore a sim

Does the world sometimes feel… unreal? As if you’re watching a movie of your own life, or the line between your inner thoughts and the world outside has started to blur? For many, these unsettling feelings are confusing and frightening. Often, they are the echoes of a past trauma reshaping present reality in profound ways. This connection between trauma and psychosis is a path many people walk, yet it's one we rarely discuss openly. Let’s change that. Here at Think Well, Live

Have you ever felt stuck in the same frustrating relationship pattern, wondering why connection sometimes feels like a maze you can't...

Have you ever felt magnetically pulled toward a person who is the source of your deepest pain? A relationship that feels like an...

Have you ever tried to recall a stressful event, only to find the details are blurry or missing entirely? It's a surprisingly common...

Do you find yourself stuck in the same painful relationship patterns, moving from one partner to the next only to face the same anxieties...

That familiar tightness in your chest. The racing thoughts that spiral into "what if" scenarios. The overwhelming feeling that you're...