Wendy E. Crane, LMFT
It occurred to me a few weeks ago during a particularly overwhelming week, that the pressure I was feeling was self-inflicted. It was not required or necessary for life to continue. However, many times it is only in retrospect that I come to this conclusion. After I have suffered and beaten myself up and entertained … Read more
The concept of a “clear yes/clear no” has been a consistent theme in my blogs so far. However, a few conversations in my office this week helped me to see a potential need for clarification on this point. Some of you may wonder how you can find this type of clarity in every situation that … Read more
The number one issue that couples bring into my office is the desire for “better communication.” Each one of us is a unique being and brings to our relationships an individual set of experiences, perspectives, and way of interacting. Below I have outlined the 5 most popular tools that I use when working with couples … Read more
I have a beautiful poster in my office that many people ask, “what is that a picture of?” It is a symbolic representation of the 7 primary chakras that flow from the base of your spine right up to just above the top of your head. Thanks to scientific research and the surgence of yoga … Read more
Dating After Divorce: The New 90-Day Rule Dating after divorce. This is a topic that comes up in my office frequently. After a divorce or break-up from a long-term relationship, dating can seem daunting, exciting, confusing, overwhelming, fun, and scary all at the same time. If dating is nothing else, it is certainly a trial … Read more
Tell the truth Take the risk to be vulnerable and Let your partner into your internal world Truth leads to trust Trust creates safety Safety allows for vulnerability Vulnerability leads to intimacy Intimacy is the path of true love These words spilled out after a recent personal experience where I became aware of how powerful … Read more
As I make my pilgrimmage home from The Wellness Institute in Seattle, Washington and another full weekend of learning, training, and personal expansion, I am once again reminded that I do not control the Universe. Do you forget that too sometimes? Riding in an airplane, especially through times of moderate to severe turbulence, is an … Read more
What does the word “commitment” bring up for you? For some of you, it may bring up fear, feelings of constraint, or suffocation. For others of you it may stir thoughts and feelings of security, love, stability, and integrity. My thoughts on commitment have shifted as I have come into the middle phase of my … Read more
What secrets do you keep? What information about yourself is buried so deep that you wouldn’t dream of sharing it with another? You may even pray when you meet someone new that they never find out and fear that if they did, they would never be able to love or accept you and would probably … Read more
One of my primary messages in therapy is that of taking care of yourself, otherwise known as “self-care.” We talk a lot about developing a self-care practice and resourcing tools within yourself to pull on strengths and behaviors when times get tough. This is particularly useful when you are in a major life-transition, experiencing a … Read more