Estes Therapy

Featured Listing

In the Raw: 7 signs you need couples counseling

If your relationship is on the rocks, you might start to question whether or not you’re in the right situation. Before you throw in the towel, you should definitely consider couples counseling, which can help you learn to change your patterns as a couple and start to move forward in a more healthy way.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you’re in trouble, here are the signs that you need to seek counseling together:

Shrink Wrap: Help! I have feelings for someone else

Got an issue that you just can’t make sense of? Shrink Wrap is the go-to advice and support corner for the LGBT community. It’s similar to a Dear Abby but with a gay twist. Shrink Wrap allows you to ask questions about your personal life, relationships, sex, struggles, and anything else while remaining anonymous. Every week, we will answer up to three questions. Get real answers about real life issues. Anonymous and free! Give it a try, we dare you!

Confused writes:

Featured Listing

#BeingLOVEDIs : What does being loved mean to you?

As a therapist, I am always working with relationships.

In fact, my daily work is surrounded around the topics of love and community.

As such, I've come to realize that humans are like pack animals, using community for support and comfort.

We are hardwired to be connected and attached to others (including our pets!).

Love comes in many different sizes, shapes and forms.

The expression of love may come through gift giving, words of affirmation, physical touch, text messages, and more.

Featured Listing

In the Raw: The Facebook "status" dilemma

It takes just a few seconds, but changing your relationship status on Facebook says a lot and can have damaging effects.

Sure, when a break-up happens you’ll want to alter your profile to reflect your true status; but, if you change your status without first informing your significant other, or out of spite, it can create real problems.

Before you change your Facebook relationship status, ask yourself a few questions.

Have you officially ended the relationship in private? What are your motives? Do you already plan on changing it back within a few days?

In the Raw: Seven misconceptions about therapy

In my counseling office, I work with people from all different walks of life. Each person has a unique step, story, and understanding of the world.

My job as a counselor is to tune into each specific client’s need and focus in on the goal at hand.

One speed bump I often run into while I going down the journey with my clients is that they tend to have a incorrect beliefs about how therapy is supposed to turn out.

Featured Listing

In the Raw: Couples Facebook therapy

I see more and more couples walking into my therapy office lately with a common theme: Facebook and how it has become an avenue to many problems in their relationships.

For example, if a couple is struggling with jealousy, partners may be more prone to "reading between the lines" when they see a friend wink to a post.

Or an emotionally unfulfilled partner may reach out for comfort to others online, because their partner is unavailable. Or maybe you don't want to have your same-sex relationship exposed online, but your partner feels hurt by the relationship being hidden.

In the Raw: How to bounce back after a gay bashing

The LGBT community has suffered from gay-bashing for years, and although 2011 has brought much change and many cities are more open and accepting of same-sex relationships, one-on-one hate crimes are still on the rise.

Featured Listing

In the Raw: An issue of control

Several summers ago I went to a local ski resort (yes, in the summer) where I took my mountain bike up the ski lift to the top. It was a beautiful view with a bright clear sky, wind blowing on my face and nature surrounding me. It was breathtaking.

When I first stood there looking down the steep mountain, I was nervous about my novice biking skills, but I was up for a good challenge.

In the Raw: The art of decision making when you both disagree

How should our disagreements be handled while making a decision? What should we do when we both feel right when we disagree?

These questions are common … especially since "most marital arguments cannot be resolved," according to John Gottman in his book, "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work." Making decisions when both partners disagree is an issue I continue to see regularly in my therapy practice.

In the Raw: How to set boundaries when your friend is a drama queen

Do you hate drama? Better yet, are you tired of your close friend crossing the line with the amount of drama they dump on you?

Friendships are definitely a place to toss around thoughts and support each other through the daily grind, but there is a fine line of what is normal and what is too much.

Everyone has a different comfort level with the amount of information they give and take in a friendship. If you are at your maximum capacity when it comes to the drama of your friend, you need to set boundaries with them.

Visit our Media Partners

Visit the San Diego Pix WebsiteVisit the FlawLes websiteVisit the Hillcrest Business Association websiteVisit the GLAAD websiteVisit the Uptown News websiteVisit the Gay San Diego websiteVisit the LavenderLens websiteVisit The Huffington Post websiteChicago PhoenixJust My Ticket