Children Learn From What We Do, Not What We Say

Children are far more perceptive than many adults give them credit for. They notice inconsistencies. They observe how people treat one another, how conflict is handled, whether apologies are genuine, and whether actions match words. Neuroscience and developmental psychology have shown that children learn through observation. Psychologist Albert Bandura demonstrated that children imitate behaviours they… Read More Children Learn From What We Do, Not What We Say

Breaking the Cycle: What Children Really Learn

Intergenerational trauma is not simply about what happens to one generation—it is about the patterns of behaviour, relationships, and emotional responses that are passed from one generation to the next. Neuroscience tells us that a child’s brain is shaped by repeated experiences. Through a process known as experience-dependent neuroplasticity, the developing brain builds neural pathways based… Read More Breaking the Cycle: What Children Really Learn

“Get Over It” Is Not Healing—Healthy Families Break the Cycle

Children and grandchildren learn far more from what they observe than from what they are told. Neuroscience and psychology consistently show that young people develop their understanding of relationships by watching the adults around them. When families remain trapped in anger, resentment, hostility, and unresolved conflict for years or even decades, the next generation absorbs… Read More “Get Over It” Is Not Healing—Healthy Families Break the Cycle

When Children Are Drawn Into Abuse and Coercive Control

One of the most damaging aspects of domestic abuse is when children or grandchildren become involved in adult conflicts. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, placing children in the middle of abusive dynamics can have lasting psychological consequences. Triangulation occurs when a third person—often a child—is drawn into a conflict between adults. This can involve carrying messages, taking… Read More When Children Are Drawn Into Abuse and Coercive Control

Five Moves. One Pattern. The Neuroscience and Psychology of Carrying Everything Alone.

As I prepare for my fifth and final move, I’m struck by something I hadn’t fully appreciated before. I’ve spent decades moving homes. But more than that… I’ve spent decades moving almost entirely on my own. The first move was into his house. The second was into the home I bought myself. While I packed… Read More Five Moves. One Pattern. The Neuroscience and Psychology of Carrying Everything Alone.

Three Boxes of Self-Help Books: Thirty Years Spent Trying to Fix a Marriage That Was Never Mine to Fix

As I prepare for my final move, I have been sorting through decades of paperwork. Among the boxes were three large cartons filled with self-help books. Books on relationships. Communication. Trauma. Psychology. Neuroscience. Emotional intelligence. Attachment theory. Mindfulness. Marriage. Forgiveness. Conflict resolution. Thousands upon thousands of pages. Three decades of searching for answers. Three decades… Read More Three Boxes of Self-Help Books: Thirty Years Spent Trying to Fix a Marriage That Was Never Mine to Fix

Sacrifice

From the perspectives of psychology and neuroscience, this pattern is not simply about money. When someone pressures a partner to sell their car, home, family heirlooms, or other valuable possessions while concealing their own assets, it can be a form of financial abuse and coercive control. The possessions themselves often carry more than financial value—they represent independence, security, family… Read More Sacrifice

Power, control, security, identity, or status.

When money becomes more important than a relationship or family, psychology and neuroscience suggest that the money itself is rarely the true priority. More often, money represents something much deeper: power, control, security, identity, or status. The Psychology Behind It In healthy relationships, money is viewed as a shared resource that supports the family. In abusive or… Read More Power, control, security, identity, or status.

The Psychology of the Illusion of Control

From a psychological and neuroscientific perspective, this can happen. Some abusive individuals will make decisions that appear irrational—sacrificing relationships, finances, reputation, or even their own future—because the immediate need to dominate or avoid feeling powerless overrides long-term self-interest. The key point is that control is not the same as power. The Psychology of the Illusion of… Read More The Psychology of the Illusion of Control