Mary Jo Rapini, LPC - Articles

Articles by Mary Jo

Relationships, Parenting, and Emotional Wellness

5 Things Therapist Recommend Not Saying in a Text

5 Things Therapist Recommend Not Saying in a Text

Have your ever received a text that made you feel upset, angry, or confused? Maybe you sent one you wished you could take back. If so, you’ve experienced how texting can distort meanings and damage communication. Face-to-face communication is always best, especially when explaining important information. As a rule for good communication, therapists recommend you never try to say these things through a text. Insults or complaints about someone’s behavior. Texts are quick, and

Keeping Your Partner Out of Your Family Drama

Keeping Your Partner Out of Your Family Drama

When you’re in a relationship, you share many aspects of your lives – friendships, goals, future plans, and family. However, sometimes what happens in families should not be shared with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Long-standing conflicts and past family drama only grow more intense and destructive when more people are involved. Setting up boundaries to protect your relationship are important. Sometimes creating boundaries is easier said than done. Someone who loves you can

Is political stress interfering with your relationship?

Is political stress interfering with your relationship?

Between the daily news, upcoming elections, financial uncertainty, and ever-changing school situations, stress is inescapable. According to the APA (American Psychiatric Association), over 68% of adults in the US say the upcoming 2020 election is a significant source of stress in their life. Those closest to you, such as your partner, will feel the effects of your stress. An article from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that in otherwise healthy couples,

Doom-Scrolling: Why We Do It and How to Stop

Doom-Scrolling: Why We Do It and How to Stop

Humans naturally crave security and control. Lately, the compounding uncertainty from election turmoil, illness, school closures, and layoffs have left many feeling insecure and unsettled. As we grow more anxious, it’s normal to seek control in any form possible. For many, that means consuming bad news and obsessing about and sharing every detail. This phenomenon is known as “doom-scrolling.” There’s a lot of bad news right now, and many people are stuck at home and spending

The Psychological Merits of a Meltdown

The Psychological Merits of a Meltdown

Meltdowns typically have a negative connotation. It’s the result of holding it together and keeping your feelings inside though a turbulent, extended period of time. Since the pandemic, everyone I know is dealing with some form of chaos or major life change. When individuals must make numerous changes affecting their livelihood without certainty or leadership, stress and anxiety are guaranteed. One little thing is enough to send you over the edge and leave you crying in the c

How to Support Truth When Loved Ones Share Misinformation on Social Media

How to Support Truth When Loved Ones Share Misinformation on Social Media

It’s likely you’ve experienced this at least once this year. You’re scrolling through your news feed and see a family member or friend’s post with information you doubt is true. Since posts with conspiracy theories or photoshopped pictures are sensational and exaggerated, they are constantly going viral. With the pandemic, upcoming elections, and overwhelming stress of uncertainty, 2020 has been an especially tough year to uncover the truth. It’s important we all do our par

Chore-Play Is Better Than No Play in Your Relationship

Chore-Play Is Better Than No Play in Your Relationship

Although there are exceptions, most American relationships involve dual earners, leading to many arguments about housework. In fact, these arguments are a leading cause of divorces in one fourth of all marriages. A study found that when couples focused on sharing chores, couples scored higher in satisfaction with their relationships and sex lives. Women were consistently found to do more housework; when asked what they wanted more in their intimate lives, most women wanted mo

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