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Narrative Therapy and Caregiving Challenges: Reframing Family Stress into Resilience
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT Caring for an aging parent or a loved one with chronic illness is one of the most profound...
ciaraward22
Oct 83 min read
Play, Learning, and Emotional Growth: Preparing Children for a Healthy School Year
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT As the school year begins, parents often focus on academics—new supplies, homework routines, and...
ciaraward22
Oct 83 min read
From Summer Freedom to School Structure: Supporting Families Through Change
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT Every August, families across the country face a familiar challenge: moving from the open, unstructured...
ciaraward22
Oct 83 min read
Back-to-School Stress: Helping Kids and Teens Transition with Resilience
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT The end of summer brings mixed emotions for many families. Children shift from long days of play,...
ciaraward22
Oct 83 min read
Bridging the Gap: When Faith-Based Therapy Saves Marriages and Mends Generations
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT If you’ve ever prayed, “God, help my family,” and then googled therapists 30 minutes later, you’re not...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
In the Heartland, Healing Happens at the Crossroads of Faith and Therapy
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT Welcome to the Midwest—where cornfields meet city blocks, and families are the backbone of every...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
Faith, Family & Healing: Why Therapy Rooted in Belief Makes a Big Difference in the DMV
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT If you’ve ever sat in D.C. traffic long enough, you’ve probably had time to think deeply—about your job,...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
Projections and Triangulation: When It’s Not About Them (But Also... It Kinda Is)
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT Ever met someone and instantly disliked them for no real reason? Or found yourself mad at your partner...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
The Voids We Don’t Talk About (But Live With Every Day)
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT There’s something we don’t talk about enough in therapy: voids. That empty feeling. The ache you can’t...
ciaraward22
Oct 81 min read
Boundaries Aren’t Walls – They’re Bridges
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT Let’s be real: boundaries have become the “hot word” of therapy talk. Everyone’s setting them, posting...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
Why Every Newly Married Couple Should Try Systemic Therapy (Before It’s “Needed”)
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT When people think of marriage counseling, they usually think of it as a last resort—like a fire...
ciaraward22
Oct 81 min read
Repeating “It's My Boundary” Isn't the Same as Using What You Learned in Therapy
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT Let me guess—you’ve just had your third argument this week, and you proudly shouted, “That’s my...
ciaraward22
Oct 81 min read
Systemic Therapy from an Islamic Lens: Healing the Whole Family
Written by Haythem Lafhaj, PLMFT As a Muslim therapist, I’ve had countless conversations with clients who worry that therapy might pull...
ciaraward22
Oct 81 min read
Why Systemic Therapy Matters in African Households
Written by [Haythem Lafhaj] Growing up in a Tunisian household, I learned quickly that family is not just important—it’s everything. But...
ciaraward22
Oct 81 min read
Holding Both: Navigating Trauma and Cultural Strength in Black and Muslim Families
Written by [Haythem Lafhaj] Black and Muslim families often carry two stories at once: one of trauma and one of strength. As therapists,...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
Spirituality in Session: Making Room for Faith in Family Therapy
Written by [Haythem Lafhaj] For many families, spirituality isn’t a sidebar to healing—it’s central. Especially in Islamic, African, and...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
Therapy Across Cultures: Honoring Islamic and African American Values in the Room
Written by [Haythem Lafhaj] Therapy doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it lives inside language, culture, and identity. For clients from Islamic,...
ciaraward22
Oct 82 min read
Why Values Matter: The Role of Self-Awareness in Ethical Therapy
Written by [Haythem Lafhaj] No therapist is value-neutral. Our beliefs—about family, gender, race, religion, sexuality—inevitably show up...
ciaraward22
Oct 71 min read
The Gift Dilemma: When Boundaries and Gratitude Collide in Therapy
Written by [Haythem Lafhaj] A client offers you a small gift—perhaps a thank-you card, homemade cookies, or a cultural token of...
ciaraward22
Oct 71 min read
Let’s Talk About Power: Rebalancing Relationships in Therapy
Written by [Haythem Lafhaj] Power dynamics exist in every relationship—romantic, familial, therapeutic. As PLMFTs, recognizing and...
ciaraward22
Oct 71 min read
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