Compliments make you squirm, deflect, or change the subject. Dr. Yuko Hanakawa, a bilingual psychologist in New York, on why praise feels unsafe for high-achievers — and what actually shifts it.

You were the translator, the scheduler, the one who kept everyone calm. Dr. Yuko Hanakawa, a bilingual psychologist in New York, on eldest daughters of immigrants — why the job never ended, and what it takes to put it down.

You can say no at work. Then your mother calls, and you hear yourself say yes. Dr. Yuko Hanakawa, a bilingual psychologist in New York, on why saying no to a parent is so hard — and what actually changes it.

gentle hugging of the self Hey there, beautiful soul! ✨ What if I told you that the most transformative relationship in your life is the one you have with yourself? And that learning to "parent" yourself with the same tenderness you'd offer a child could change everything? The Inner Parent We've Inherited As a psychologist practicing AEDP® therapy in New York City, I've witnessed how our relationship with ourselves often mirrors the parenting we received. If you grew up with

hands creating a compassionate heart Hey there, compassionate soul! ✨ Have you ever found yourself saying "yes" when your body was screaming "no"? Or perhaps you've stayed on the phone an hour longer than planned because someone needed to talk, even though you were exhausted? Maybe you're the one friends always turn to, the shoulder everyone cries on, the problem-solver in your family or workplace. If you're nodding along, I see you. And I want to share something that might s

We've all experienced times when we've felt wounded, hurt, or neglected - whether by others or even our own inner critic. For many, those wounds trace back to childhood experiences leaving us feeling unseen, unheard, misunderstood. Perhaps you had emotionally unavailable or dismissive parents. Maybe you faced trauma or adversity forcing you to grow up too quickly. Whatever the circumstances, that inner child still holds the pain of those unmet needs and unprocessed hurts. The