Veronica Ingrao, LCSW, LADC, CCS

couple, love, romance-6491659.jpg

Intimacy in your Relationship: How to Get Closer

Intimacy, in general terms, means closeness.  When I reference intimacy building in therapy, however, most people seem to brace themselves for a conversation about sex, which is just one form of intimacy.  Part of the difficulty in discussing this topic is that partnered people often think they lack intimacy.  While there is always, always room […]

Intimacy in your Relationship: How to Get Closer Read More »

accept-your-body.jpg

Body Positivity is Bullshit. Choose Body Neutrality Instead.

The term body positivity has dominated pop culture over the last decade, and like many explosive trends, has a dark side.  The roots of the body positivity movement sprung up primarily as an attempt to make room for women of ethnic minorities in the world of fashion and advertising.  In the United States particularly, curvy

Body Positivity is Bullshit. Choose Body Neutrality Instead. Read More »

positive.behavior.jpg

Four Steps to Overcome Negative & Unhealthy Behaviors

Recently, I read a critique of negative societal patterns that result in illness, The Myth of Normal (Mate, 2022) .  Towards the end of the book, Gabor Mate builds on a concept I read in a book ten years prior, You Are Not Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and

Four Steps to Overcome Negative & Unhealthy Behaviors Read More »

Lady Gaga talks about mental health at the Grammys.

Celebrity Exposure: Does It Help Destigmatize Mental Health?

Mental health access in the 2000s–  not only are there more films addressing mental health issues (i.e.: Silver Linings Playbook, The King of Staten Island, Shutter Island, Black Swan) but celebrities are also talking more openly about their difficulties with mental illness. Below are some examples of popular celeb disclosures, followed by some key insights

Celebrity Exposure: Does It Help Destigmatize Mental Health? Read More »

Narcissism and How We Overuse the Term

Narcissism, as a concept, comes from the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus.  It’s a beautiful story, actually.  Narcissus was a hunter wanted by many admirers.  Everyone wanted to be with him, but he refused to show an interest.  He’d spend his days running through the woods alone, shining radiantly as he pranced amongst trees.  One

Narcissism and How We Overuse the Term Read More »

overcome-negativity.jpg

5 Strategies to Overcome Negativity Bias

“I’m so negative,” my clients often say. “You’re so human,” is often my first response.  The truth is, aside from illnesses like depression or someone’s naturally more easy going persona, all people’s minds are wired towards negative thinking patterns.  Humans give more importance to negative experiences than positive ones, often referred to as a negativity

5 Strategies to Overcome Negativity Bias Read More »