When Therapy Fails Domestic Abuse Victims: Why So Many Therapists Miss Coercive Control
By Maria R. Riegger, Attorney and Certified Trauma-Informed Parenting Coach We are often told that when a relationship becomes unhealthy, the solution is to seek professional help. Go to couples therapy. Learn to communicate better. Work on conflict resolution. Take responsibility for your part in the relationship. These recommendations may be entirely appropriate for couples […]
Constructive Isolation: When Coercive Control Leaves You Too Exhausted to Have a Life
By Maria R. Riegger, Attorney and Certified Trauma-Informed Parenting Coach When we think about isolation in an abusive relationship, we often picture an abuser who explicitly forbids their partner from seeing friends, visiting family, going to work, or maintaining relationships outside the home. Sometimes the abuser monitors phone calls, restricts travel, or becomes angry when […]
Why a Prenup Isn’t Enough: How to Protect Your Wealth When Moving In Together or Remarrying
If you’re considering moving in with a partner, blending families, or getting remarried, you’ve probably heard the standard advice: Get a prenup. As an attorney, I agree that prenuptial agreements, and cohabitation agreements for unmarried couples, can be extremely valuable. But there’s something I wish more people understood: A prenup is not a magic wand. […]
What If We’ve Been Asking the Wrong Question About Parenting? The Research I Couldn’t Ignore
As an attorney, I was trained to follow evidence, not assumptions. Good lawyers don’t begin with conclusions. We begin with facts. That same approach shaped the research I conducted while preparing my 2024 TEDx talk on teenagers and healthy boundaries. I wanted to understand what actually helps young people become emotionally resilient, confident, and less […]
Why Successful Professionals Still Lose Their Patience at Home (and The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught Us)
You can lead a multimillion-dollar project. Negotiate high-stakes contracts. Manage difficult personalities with grace. So why does one eye roll from your teenager, or one meltdown from your toddler, leave you reacting in ways that don’t reflect the person you know yourself to be? If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Why can I stay calm […]
Raising the Zodiac: Astrology as a Compassionate Guide for Parents: Insights from Mary English Featuring Maria R. Riegger
Leading astrologer Mary English, with over 25 years of professional experience, has just published a heart-centered article in the International Journal of the Astrological Association of Great Britain that explores how astrology can support parents in understanding and nurturing their children’s unique energies. Her piece, Raising the Zodiac — How Astrology Can Help Parents Care […]
Why Is My Gemini Tween So Picky? 10 Smart Ways to Handle Gemini Mood Swings
If you’re raising a Gemini middle schooler, you already know they can be brilliant one moment and baffling the next. One week they’re obsessed with anime; the next, they “don’t like it anymore.” Yesterday’s favorite meal is suddenly “disgusting.” This is not straight-out rebellion, although it certainly feels like it. It’s partly the growing need […]
Why Emotion Labeling is Critical for Well-being
We often hear, and I often tell clients, that the healthy way of dealing with emotions is to acknowledge and NAME the emotion before letting it go. How did your parents handle your emotions as a kid? Many of us, myself included, were forced to repress our emotions as kids. Perhaps our parents could not […]
Capricorn Calm: How to Model Emotional Regulation during your Child’s Tantrum
Capricorns are often thought of as stoic and reserved, even unemotional. Of course, Capricorn people have the same emotional experiences as the rest of us. It’s just that they are usually calm under pressure and do not wear their emotions on their sleeves. Capricorn energy is, at its core, a grounding earth energy. Your Strengths […]
Why your Teen won’t Talk to You (and what to do about it)
This is a common complaint I hear from parents of teens. “I want to know what’s going on with my teen, what’s important to them, what they think. But they won’t say anything! Or they shrug and say, ‘I don’t know.’ How do I get them to open up?” First, this is a common phenomenon. […]