Bare Minimum or Princess Treatment? Why Relationship “Standards” Are About More Than Flowers
Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David

Bare Minimum or Princess Treatment? Why Relationship “Standards” Are About More Than Flowers

The internet’s debating what counts as the “bare minimum” or “princess treatment” in relationships — but the real flex? Talking openly about your needs. In this blog, I break down how to have healthy, playful conversations about expectations, even when it feels awkward. Plus, how couples can co-create relationship guidelines that actually work — for both partners.ction.

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When Saying Yes Means Losing Yourself: How People-Pleasing Hides Anxiety (and Hurts Relationships!)
Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David

When Saying Yes Means Losing Yourself: How People-Pleasing Hides Anxiety (and Hurts Relationships!)

People-pleasing can feel like love, loyalty, or support — but it’s often a short-term strategy for managing anxiety. And the cost? Your energy, your voice, and your trust in your own boundaries. This blog explores what it really means to say yes — and how to stop pleasing at the expense of yourself.

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Is Everyone Toxic, or Are We Just Tired of Being Uncomfortable?
Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David

Is Everyone Toxic, or Are We Just Tired of Being Uncomfortable?

“I cut off my mom and I’ve never felt better.”

Statements like this are common on social media—and they’re often met with applause. In a culture increasingly fluent in therapy-speak, cutting people off is being reframed as empowerment. But as a systems-based therapist, I can’t help but wonder: Are we building emotional safety, or simply avoiding discomfort?

The term “toxic” has become a vague stand-in for anyone who challenges us, annoys us, or doesn’t validate us—and the result is a growing tendency to sever relationships rather than repair them. While there are absolutely times when stepping away is necessary, especially in cases of abuse or harm, I worry that this broader cultural shift may be leading us toward isolation, emotional fragility, and a diminished tolerance for difference.

What happens when we stop working through conflict—and simply walk away?

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Beyond Labels: Understanding Attachment Styles Through a Social Construction Lens
Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David

Beyond Labels: Understanding Attachment Styles Through a Social Construction Lens

If you’ve ever labeled yourself “anxious” or “avoidant,” you’re not alone — attachment styles are everywhere. But they’re more than just personality quizzes. Through a social construction lens, we explore how your attachment patterns are shaped in context — by relationships, culture, trauma, and experience — and how they can evolve. You’re not stuck. You’re shaped by connection, and capable of building new ones.

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Loving Too Hard? How Over-Nurturing Can Undermine Your Partner’s Growth
Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David

Loving Too Hard? How Over-Nurturing Can Undermine Your Partner’s Growth

When caring turns into over-functioning, we risk creating imbalance in our relationships. This blog explores how over-nurturing—though well-intentioned—can lead to partner infantilization, fostering dependence rather than growth. From cleaning up after your partner to managing their schedule, these patterns often stem from anxiety and a desire to help. Learn how trust, vulnerability, and system awareness can restore balance and strengthen your connection.

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When Anxiety Picks a Fight: How Hidden Worries Show Up in Our Relationships
Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David Self-Improvement, Family, Relationships, Friendship, Anxiety, Grief, Couples, Children, Communication, Counseling, Marriage Liz David

When Anxiety Picks a Fight: How Hidden Worries Show Up in Our Relationships

Struggling with anxiety in your relationship? Learn how anxiety can manifest as irritability, impatience, or conflict, and discover practical tools for self-awareness, communication, and emotional regulation. Strengthen trust with your partner by taking ownership of your feelings. Read more to explore how therapy or coaching can help.

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Trust: Understanding the Nuances in Relationships
Relationships, Coaching, Communication Liz David Relationships, Coaching, Communication Liz David

Trust: Understanding the Nuances in Relationships

Trust isn’t just about the big betrayals—it’s also about the small moments of reliability, support, and emotional safety. You might trust your partner to be faithful, but do you trust them to parent without micromanaging? To handle responsibilities without reminders? To listen without judgment? True trust means feeling safe to be yourself, flaws and all. If you’ve ever filtered your words to avoid criticism or hesitated to share your feelings out of fear of being dismissed, you’ve experienced the nuances of trust. Let’s dive into what trust really means in all areas of life.

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Tips to Manage Conflict
Relationships, Coaching, Communication Liz David Relationships, Coaching, Communication Liz David

Tips to Manage Conflict

We explore practical and empathetic strategies for handling conflict with coworkers, friends, or partners. From active listening to understanding different conflict styles, the article offers actionable steps to resolve disagreements and improve relationships. Whether you need time to process or prefer immediate communication, you'll find helpful tips for managing conflict with compassion and care.

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