Why Does the Energy You Carry Matter? Because the space we hold for other people depends on the space we hold for ourselves. Because how you are feeling is the energy you give off – no matter how well you think you’re hiding it. And the most important part: what we get back is often the result of the energy we’re putting out.

A few weeks ago I spoke to AARP for a piece: "How to Cope When You Are Caregiving for Someone You (Really!) Don’t Get Along With," by Bruce Horovitz. That piece is worth reading if you are in a particularly hard situation. What I want to offer here is broader: practical tips and tools for any caregiving relationship, end of life, and especially for the challenges that come with it.

Most people have never heard the term conflict coaching until they need it. And by then, they're often searching for something else: "how to prepare for a hard conversation," "how to talk to my sister about Mom's care," "how to give feedback without making things worse." Conflict coaching is the thing they're actually looking for, but the name hasn't caught on the way therapy or executive coaching has.

Labels have always terrified me. Not the words themselves, but what comes with them: the fear of being mis-seen. Of having someone look at me and see the label instead of me. Of being reduced to a word I never fully agreed to.

For many of us, the holiday season brings a complex mix of emotions that can be challenging to navigate. Here's what to remember.

In professional environments, conflict and anxiety often go hand-in-hand, creating a complex dynamic that affects both our performance and our ability to find effective solutions. When conflict arises, it naturally triggers feelings of anxiety as we worry about negative outcomes, potential damage to professional relationships, or rejection of ourselves and our ideas. This anxiety, in turn, can escalate the original conflict, creating a cycle where negative emotions and behav

The art of principled opposition isn't just about being right—it's about being effective. Here's how to navigate this delicate terrain while

In conflict, we want to separate the person from the problem. After all, you can't solve people, but you can solve problems. Identify the behaviors you are finding difficult. The behaviors are the problem, not the person.

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to overlook the power of truly listening and empathizing with another's perspective—especially in high-stress environments like healthcare. But here’s the thing: empathy isn’t just 'nice to have'; it’s essential for meaningful conflict resolution. Drawing from years of experience in mediating healthcare disputes, I’ve found that when parties feel genuinely understood, defenses lower and pathways to resolution become clear. It transforms ten

We say that conflict is normal. Anger is normal too, and it's often the byproduct of unresolved conflict. But here's what most people miss: anger itself isn't the problem. It's a signal that something important needs attention. I’ve seen a lot of people have a lot of shame around anger. While it is not OK to hurt ourselves or others when angry, anger is a normal emotion with information to share.