Arlene Kauffman, LMFT

03/30/2026

03/30/2026

Emotional intimacy doesn't happen because two people spend enough time together. It happens because they've repeatedly chosen to be honest in moments when performing strength would have been easier. That's the part most people underestimate.

It requires sharing what's actually going on rather than the curated version. Asking for what you need instead of hoping they'll guess. Listening to understand rather than to respond or redirect. And creating the kind of environment where your partner can show up imperfect, overwhelmed, and uncertain without it changing how loved they feel.

You can't be deeply known by someone unless you're willing to actually be seen by them.

03/30/2026

03/29/2026

Stressful experiences can have a lasting effect on our well-being, but they may not have to. Research points to a way to start feeling more positively about past negative events. Here's how.

03/29/2026

In counseling, I share this concept with kids of all ages, and it’s true for adults too. When someone is unkind, excludes you, or acts mean to feel more powerful, it says far more about their insecurities and need for social approval than it does about you.

Understanding this helps kids become more aware, confident, and even compassionate, they can feel empathy for the other person instead of letting it shake their self-worth.

This infographic shows some examples of how you can help them navigate these situations. ☀️

03/29/2026

When a partner cries most people reach immediately for solutions, reassurances, or explanations because sitting in someone else's pain without fixing it feels unbearable. The problem is that all of those responses communicate that the crying is something to be resolved rather than something to be witnessed.

Presence without an agenda is the whole thing. You do not have to know what to say. You just have to stay.

Save this for the next time you need it.

03/29/2026

03/19/2026

Your pain is real. Your wounds matter. But your story doesn’t end there. With God’s grace, healing is possible, and the life ahead of you can still rise stronger than the pain behind you. 🙏 “See, I am making all things new.” — Revelation 21:5

03/19/2026

Patience can feel incredibly hard in the moment, especially when your child is overwhelmed, frustrated, or melting down. But those moments are often the most powerful teaching opportunities we have as parents.

Children are not born knowing how to manage big emotions. Their brains are still developing the skills needed for impulse control, emotional regulation, and problem solving. When frustration takes over, the thinking part of their brain becomes less active, and their emotions take the lead.

This is where our response matters most.

When we respond with patience instead of anger, we are modeling the very skill we want our children to learn. They are watching how we handle stress, how we speak when things are hard, and how we regulate ourselves when emotions run high.

Over time, those repeated experiences become lessons their brain stores away.

Every calm response shows them what self control looks like. ❤️
Every moment of patience teaches them that big feelings can be handled without losing control. ❤️

Children don’t just learn from what we tell them.
They learn from how we show up.

And sometimes the greatest lesson we give them is simply this: how to stay steady when emotions are big. 💕💕💕

03/19/2026

Love isn’t just a feeling. It’s something we practice in the small moments every day. Listening with patience. Speaking with kindness. Forgiving when it’s hard. Trusting even when it’s uncertain. These simple choices can transform the way we love the people God has placed in our lives. Which one of these stands out to you most today?
👇 Comment the number that speaks to you.

03/16/2026

Time is one of the most valuable gifts we have. Money can be replaced. Opportunities can return. But the moments we share with people are once-in-a-lifetime. That’s why the small moments matter so much... the conversations, the listening, the presence. Today, slow down. Be present with the people God has placed in your life.
Sometimes the greatest act of love is simply giving someone your time. ❤️

03/16/2026