Deception and betrayal masquerading as love
Brad Robinson, a licensed private investigator, explains the shortcomings of online background checks. Yes, they are inexpensive. But they are also incomplete and can miss information that you need to know. Or, the information that turns up in your report may actually belong to someone else. Plus, …
Brad Robinson: Failures of online background checksRead More
“Melissa” and “Kevin” dated for seven years. They bought a house together, and Melissa worked hard to turn it into a cozy home. But even though Kevin proclaimed his love and shopped for engagement rings, Melissa sensed something was amiss. Then she learned, to her horror, that her instincts were corr …
In the conclusion to this story, “Melissa” finally learned that her boyfriend of seven years, “Kevin,” was a lying cheater throughout their relationship. As a result, she fell into severe clinical depression. But she was determined to not let this man crush her. She implemented a three-step plan to t …
What is depression? Mandy Friedman, LPCC-S, CCDVC, CCTP, is a counselor who specializes in treating victims of abuse, many of whom feel depressed. She explains that depression is a neurobiological and chemical brain state — not a weakness in your personality you can overcome simply through w …
Con artists will take advantage anything, including faith, tradition and culture, in order to exploit their targets. “Mariam,” unfortunately, learned this the hard way. She met a prospective suitor on a matrimonial website who seemed to be exactly what she was looking for. In reality, it was a mar …
Your culture can still support you, even if you’ve left your country. Vjolca Capri, LMHC, QS, NBCC, draws on her Islamic faith and traditions as she works with clients. Expats may miss their homes and have difficulty putting down roots, she explains. What to do? Build a new tribe where you now live. …
For months, “Susanna” thought of “Luke” as only a friend. But when she was in need, he rescued her — and from then on, he was more than a friend. Their excursions were full of fun and laughter — but then, when they returned home, Luke withdrew. Had she done something wrong? Did he no longer find her …
“Susanna” realized that her boyfriend, “Luke,” had two distinct sides to his personality — one side would never hurt her, and the other could. When things were good, she enjoyed the happiest moments of her life. But when they were bad, she collapsed into a puddle of tears — and Luke didn’t care. Slow …
All her life, “Susanna’s” greatest interests were psychological thrillers and cults. When she got away from her relationship, she realized that with Luke, she’d been living in one. Susanna wondered if his other women felt the same way, and reached out to his previous girlfriend, Jessica. Yes, their e …
Love and losing my mind, Part 3: Truth and recoveryRead More
The romantic relationship “Jessica” had with “Luke” left her feeling confused and abused. As a result, she turned to substances and experienced suicidal ideation. Then Jessica spoke with “Susanna,” who was also involved with Luke — and who endured similar treatment from him. A weight was lifted — Jes …
