Author: alexiamcleod

Rethinking Binge Drinking Culture in College Living in active addiction does not suddenly become healthy or casual consumption the moment someone is handed a diploma. I felt compelled to write this after seeing the young woman currently going viral on TikTok — the so-called “50 Day Bender Girl” — documenting herself getting drunk every day for the 50 days leading up to graduation in an effort to “make the most of it.” What struck me wasn’t just the drinking itself. It was the reaction to it. Thousands of people expressed concern and horror, while thousands more cheered it on. Laughing. Relating to it. Calling it “classic college memories.” Repeating phrases many students know all too well: “You only live once.” “It’s not addiction until graduation.” And honestly, that phrase says…

Walking into a therapist’s office for the first time can feel intimidating. Many people imagine uncomfortable silence, harsh judgment, or being forced to talk about painful memories before they’re ready. Others worry therapy means something is “wrong” with them. The truth is, therapy is often much different — and much gentler — than people expect. If you’ve ever considered therapy but felt nervous about what might happen, you’re not alone. Understanding what therapy is not can help ease some of the fear and uncertainty surrounding it. Therapy Is Not About Being Judged One of the biggest fears people have is that a therapist will analyze, criticize, or shame them. Many people worry they’ll say the “wrong” thing or reveal something embarrassing. A good therapist is not there to judge you.…

When Family and Money Intersect: Navigating Love, Loss, and Boundaries “Family and business don’t mix.”It’s a phrase many of us have heard—often said with a knowing look or a story behind it. And while there’s truth in the caution, it’s not always realistic. The reality is that for many families, money and relationships do intersect—and sometimes, they have to. Whether it’s helping a sibling start a business, managing finances for aging parents, or navigating a will after the loss of a loved one, money has a way of entering even the closest family bonds. And when it does, it can bring up emotions that are much deeper than dollars. Why It Feels So Complicated Money is rarely just about money—especially within families. It often carries layers of meaning: love, responsibility, fairness, trust,…

When Love Turns Into Control: Navigating Boundaries in Friendships Friendship is one of the most meaningful parts of our lives. Our friends are often the people we turn to first—for advice, comfort, and validation. But sometimes, that closeness can blur into something less healthy: over-involvement in each other’s paths. Love is often talked about as something soft, patient, and freeing. But there’s another side to love that doesn’t get discussed as much—the part where caring deeply for someone slowly turns into trying to shape their choices. It doesn’t usually start in a harmful way. In fact, it often begins with the best intentions. You want someone to be happy. You want them to succeed, to feel safe, to avoid pain. You see their potential, and you want them to live…

When Friends Get Too Involved in Your Love Life (and When You Might Be Doing It Too) Friendship and romantic relationships are two of the most meaningful parts of our lives. Ideally, they support each other—friends celebrate your happiness, and partners respect your friendships. But sometimes, the lines blur. A well-meaning friend can become overly involved or opinionated about your relationship, and on the flip side, you might find yourself doing the same in someone else’s. Navigating this dynamic with care is essential for maintaining healthy boundaries, preserving trust, and protecting the integrity of both relationships. Why Friends Get Overly Involved Friends often step in because they care. They may want to protect you, especially if they’ve seen you hurt before. Other times, their involvement may stem from their own…

Faith and Accountability: Learning to Hold Both at Once Faith can be a powerful anchor. It gives meaning to uncertainty, offers comfort in difficult seasons, and reminds us that we are not navigating life alone. In many ways, it softens the sharp edges of life, giving us language for hope when circumstances feel overwhelming. But when faith is misunderstood or misapplied, it can quietly drift into something else entirely—avoidance, denial, or even the outsourcing of personal responsibility. What begins as trust can slowly become passivity if we’re not paying attention. So how do we hold onto faith while also staying grounded in accountability? At its core, faith invites trust. It asks us to believe in something beyond what we can immediately see or control. Accountability, on the other hand, asks…

Meeting People Where They Are: Emotional Intelligence in Real Conversations In therapy and in everyday relationships, we often talk about emotional intelligence as if it were a universal skill set that everyone experiences the same way. But in reality, emotional intelligence exists on a spectrum. People differ in how they process emotions, interpret situations, and make meaning out of their experiences. One of the most important relational skills is learning how to meet people where they are emotionally, rather than expecting them to understand the world through the same lens we do. Two Sides of The Same Coin: Sometimes communication breaks down not because someone is unwilling to understand, but because two people are processing the same situation through completely different emotional frameworks. For example, someone with strong discernment and…

In the world of dating and relationships, many people develop a quiet checklist of what they don’t want.“I won’t date someone emotionally unavailable.”“I can’t do hot-and-cold.”“I’m avoiding avoidants.” On the surface, this sounds like healthy discernment. But for many of us, what we’re actually avoiding isn’t just them—it’s something being activated within us. Often, without realizing it, we are reacting to attachment dynamics we don’t yet understand. This is why learning your own attachment style isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative. What Attachment Styles Really Are Attachment styles are not labels meant to box us in or excuse behavior. They are patterns—learned ways our nervous system adapted to closeness, safety, and connection early in life. These patterns tend to show up most clearly in romantic relationships because intimacy activates our deepest emotional wiring. Broadly speaking, people…

The Psychology of Chosen Connection There is something deeply beautiful about the concept of found family. It is the idea that connection can be so strong, so rooted in loyalty, love, and shared history, that someone earns a place in your family simply by being present in your life. They are not related by blood or legal bond, but by something equally powerful: consistency, care, and mutual devotion. When it comes to community, more truly is more. Love expands. The circle widens. There is always room at the table. And while there may not always be a formal term for this practice within every culture, “found family” feels like the closest expression. Because they are family—just discovered, chosen, and embraced rather than born into. Through a psychological lens, found family…

Valentine’s Day in Long-Term Relationships: The Quiet Kind of Love Valentine’s Day is often portrayed as a holiday of grand romance—flowers, extravagant dates, surprise gifts, and dramatic gestures of affection. Social media and cultural expectations can make it seem as though love must be loud to be meaningful. But for long-term relationships, love often looks different. It becomes quieter, steadier, and rooted in everyday partnership rather than one-day performances. The healthiest love is not always showy. More often, it is sustainable. The Quiet Kind of Love In long-term relationships, love grows through consistency. It is found in the small moments that build trust and safety over time. Equality in partnership is not measured by how impressive Valentine’s Day is, but by how supported both people feel throughout the year. This…