Social Reciprocity By Elizabeth O’Brien, LPC Do you ever go to a party or dinner and spend the entire evening putting out a lot of friendly energy and receiving very little back? I always know when I’ve had a good social experience at a party or gathering when I don’t come home exhausted. I feel …
Category: Friends
Dec 02
Reciprocity, or the Golden Rule
By Elizabeth O’Brien, M.A., LPC Reciprocity is one of my favorite concepts—in therapy and in life. Parents do well to model this give-and-take behavior, by nurturing their children and supporting them, while at the same time expecting the child to reciprocate with love, respect, consideration—and yes, even chores! This reciprocity concept harkens back to Attachment …
Nov 26
Love in the Afternoon
By Elizabeth O’Brien A month ago, I was surprised by a call from my childhood friend, Mary Jo Wade, with whom I grew up in Memphis. We had not corresponded, except for Christmas cards, in a few years. Mary Jo and I had been tomboys together in our midtown neighborhood, exploring the forbidden woods behind …