I referred a client who told me their life coach wants them to practice x therapy style. That is definitely a scenario that raises serious professional and ethical red flags. When a life coach suggests or attempts to facilitate a specific therapy modality (especially structured evidence-based practices like EMDR, CBT, or DBT), they are crossing out of coaching and into unlicensed clinical practice. Life coaching has become increasingly popular. From social media influencers to online coaching...

We often think of bullying as something that happens in school hallways, on playgrounds, or in teenage group chats. But exclusion, gossip, public humiliation, and social manipulation can continue well into adulthood—at work, in friend groups, parenting communities, professional spaces, and online groups. “Adult mean girls” is an informal phrase people use to describe these patterns. It is not a mental-health diagnosis, and it does not apply only to women. The phrase is most useful when it...

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you have been carrying difficult experiences alone. You do not need to share your entire story during a consultation or first appointment; the goal is to learn whether the therapist’s training, approach, and style feel like a safe fit for you. A trauma-informed therapist should welcome your questions and respect your pace. You are allowed to ask about experience, treatment methods, privacy, practical details, and what will happen if you...