Maybe “Letting Go” Means Giving Up the Wait
We tell people to “let it go” all the time. Someone betrayed them. A relationship ended badly. A family member said something cruel. A friend disappeared when they were needed most. A parent failed them in ways that still hurt decades later. Eventually someone says, “You have to let it go.” The phrase sounds simple enough, but I am not sure we always know what we are asking people to do. Photo by Dương Nhân Letting go can sound like forgetting what happened, deciding it no lo
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
6 days ago5 min read
Love Is Not a Ledger
"A relationship is not a 50/50 proposition. It is a 100/100 proposition. You don't bring half of yourself; you bring all of yourself." — Esther Perel Every relationship has a ledger. Most couples do not call it that. They do not sit down at the kitchen table, open a spreadsheet, and calculate who owes whom affection, appreciation, apology, patience, or effort. But the ledger is often there. I did the dishes last night. I apologized first the last time. I always initiate the h
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Jun 107 min read
From Needs to Values: A Better Framework for Relationships
"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." — Marcus Aurelius There’s a common idea in modern relationships that sounds reasonable on the surface: they're supposed to meet my needs. It shows up in small ways: "They should know what I need.” "You're not meeting my needs.” “I need them to feel…" They all carry an underlying assumption that a good partner is someone who consistently delivers the right emotional experience. It mak
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Mar 285 min read
When Relationship Skills Aren’t Enough: The Next Level of Couples Work
When communication skills aren't enough, stuck relationship patterns are often driven by the nervous system. Learn how deeper couples counseling breaks the cycle and restores connection.
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Mar 275 min read
The Voice Inside: Retraining the Inner Critic
Stop fighting your inner critic. Dr. Don provides a mindful framework to lower the volume of internal condemnation through meditation, transforming self-doubt into a regulated, protective ally.
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Mar 207 min read
Become Allergic to Blaming Others
Learn how to stop blaming others and reclaim your personal power. Dr. Don explains why accountability, not blame, fuels growth, self-compassion, and authentic transformation.
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Mar 97 min read
Becoming Someone You Trust: Choosing Peace Over Performance
We don’t meditate to become better versions of ourselves — we meditate to see that there was never a “self” to fix. Discover how real meditation begins when we stop trying to control experience and allow life to unfold exactly as it is.
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Feb 246 min read
People Aren’t Toxic, Behaviors Are
“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago It’s tempting to reduce people to their worst traits, especially when we've been hurt by them or have wi
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Feb 136 min read
The Small Habits That Decide Whether Burnout Gets Better—or Worse
Recovery from burnout isn’t found in grand resets or career overhauls. Discover why sustainable healing depends on small, consistent habits that respect your physiological capacity rather than your ambition.
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Jan 315 min read
Why Saying Yes All the Time Is Quietly Burning You Out
“When we have been prevented from learning how to say no, our bodies may end up saying it for us.” — Gabor Maté Most people don’t burn out because they don’t care. They burn out because they care too much, and don’t know how to stop. They say "yes" when they’re already stretched thin. They take on more because it feels easier than disappointing someone. Every "yes" obligates them to a hundred silent "no's." Still, they keep things moving, smooth things over, and bottle up str
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Jan 195 min read
You Don’t Need a Vacation — You Need Recovery
" The nervous system is an organ of relationship. It is not just about what is happening within us, but how we are relating to the demands around us. Recovery requires a shift from a state of 'doing' and 'surviving' to a state of 'being' and 'regulating.' " — Dr. Gabor Maté — When burnout starts to show up, one of the first things people tell themselves is: “I just need a break.” So, you take time off. You unplug for a few days. You finally stop checking email. You sleep a bi
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Jan 96 min read
Burnout Isn’t Failure, It’s a Signal
“You can’t ‘solve’ stress. You have to complete the stress response cycle.” - Emily Nagoski Burnout rarely arrives all at once. It seems to be a popular topic right now. A lot of people are experiencing burnout's sapping symptoms. The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon, rooted specifically in chronic workplace stress. And it certainly shows up there. But the experience itself isn’t confined to a job description. Anywhere prolonged demand o
Dr. Don Schweitzer, PhD, LMSW
Jan 56 min read
