“Yes” and “no” are two of the clearest words in the English language, but they can also be two of the most opaque. “Yes,” for example, can come in a variety of forms. “Yes” can be big and heartfelt, small and scared, or twisted with anger. When you say “yes,” do you always know what kind of “yes” you’re saying? And if it is a scared or angry “yes,” why aren’t you saying “no” instead? Learning to say “no” can be transformative because it means overcoming the fear or guilt that

Some psychologists tend to use “client” and “patient” interchangeably, but there’s an important difference between those terms. For example, a lawyer would never calls the people she assists “patients,” while a surgeon is unlikely to call the people he operates on “clients.” The term “patient” implies someone in need of help who has no skills or strengths to resolve their issues. It suggests a high-to-low relationship of an expert who provides assistance and a person in need

It’s tempting to play the blame game, to point a finger at other people and fault them for your problems. If others have caused you harm, whether family members, friends or colleagues, there is legitimate reason to feel upset. It’s certainly helpful to validate those feelings of frustration or disappointment, but blaming others for your problems ultimately backfires because it means giving them control over your life. That’s why you can never win the blame game. An essential