Cluff Counseling PLLC

In the spirit of Father’s Day, I want to talk about how we can combat toxic masculinity by teaching our sons about their needs and feelings in order to raise strong men, husbands and fathers.

Raising Our Sons to be Human: Fighting Toxic Masculinity

The truth is lying is damaging to relationships. When we realize the many types of lies and how they can impact our relationships, we can start to improve our relationships immediately.

How Honesty Can Save Your Relationships

Laughter is powerful and comes with many benefits you may not know about! Read more on this weeks blog!

Jokes Aside: The Power of Laughter Laughter is powerful and comes with many benefits you may not know about!

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, let’s talk about how we can create our own luck, instead of waiting around for it!

Feeling Powerless? Let’s Not Leave it Up to St. Patrick!

In this post I spell out the DOs and DON’Ts of perfectionism so your life is not poisoned by never being enough.

Perfectly Imperfect: Overcoming Perfectionism One Day at a Time

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I am mindful of those who are in pain–whether from their own actions or those of another. Here’s how you can deal if you are hurting.

When the Pain of Relationships Dampens Valentine’s Day

In honor of the New Year, let’s talk about having a growth mindset–our ability to literally learn or do anything we set our mind to! Let’s make this year great by not setting limits on ourselves. Learn more on this weeks blog.

There’s No Limit to What We Can Set Our Minds To Do! In honor of the New Year, let’s talk about having a growth mindset–our ability to literally learn or do anything we set our mind to! Let’s make this year great by not setting limits on ourselves.

Happy New Year! My hope for 2024 is that you know you have the potential for healing and for creating change in your life.
What is your hope for you and/or your relationships in 2024?
Share below ⬇️

Holidays are often the anniversary or reminder of a painful loss. Whether that is from divorce, separation, death, or whatever else, here is the “Anniversary Effect” explained–and also how to cope. Read more on this weeks blog.

When Holidays Bring Not-So-Jolly Memories Holidays are often the anniversary or reminder of a painful loss. Whether that is from divorce, separation, death, or whatever else, here is the “Anniversary Effect” explained–and also how to cope.

Whether it is a therapy group or a support group, groups offer a sense of togetherness and shared empathy, in a safe space, that is hard to re-create elsewhere.

Finding Connection Through Groups

Regardless of our life circumstances, we can find things to be grateful for and this exercise can help!

Finding Gratitude in Hard Times

I got the courage to do something I have wanted to do for a while…I started a men’s group! Most of my private practice is focused on men and couples healing from problematic sexual behavior. One thing I have noticed repeatedly, with my male clients, is men often don’t seek friendships outside their marriage and if they are not sharing their feelings in their marriage, they are not sharing them with anyone. I hear them say their loneliness is intense, and in the same sentence that they can not imagine connecting with other men on an emotional level. Tonight, for 2 hours, I witnessed a room of men, beginning to connect with each other and lean into vulnerability, and it was beautiful!

Do these sound familiar to you? Man up. Deal with it. A REAL man can handle anything. These are just a few of the phrases that increase the stigmatization of men seeking help for their mental health. Let’s challenge that–for the sake of our men.

MENtal Health: How are the Men in Your Life Doing? Man up. Deal with it. A REAL man can handle anything. These are just a few of the phrases that increase the stigmatization of men seeking help for their mental health. Let’s challenge that–for the sake of our men.

It’s 2:00 a.m. and you have a flat tire close to home. Who do you call? You get some gut-wrenching news and are devastated. Who do you turn to? Who are the people you rely on in your life?

We All Need People; Who Are Yours?

For parents, caretakers, and humankind life’s pace is dramatically picking up with school and extracurriculars starting. How will you take care of yourself amidst all your responsibilities?

Making Time for Ourselves

The link between po*******hy and shame is undeniable and cyclical. Here’s how we break the cycle.

Breaking the Cycle of Shame

Everyone gets angry sometimes. It’s how you DEAL with your anger that matters. Here are eight healthy ways to deal with anger.

Healthy Ways to Handle Anger

Did you know that having hobbies actually makes you a better partner, friend, parent, employee and person in general? It’s true and here’s how!

Hobbies Add to Our Happiness

Consumers of po*******hy can get so focused chasing flashy fantasies that they miss out on the real life and real relationships that are right in front of them.

P**n: The Secret Intruder on Relationships

While our children are being bombarded with messages about body images, here are 5 things we can do to instill body positivity in them.

Gifts Parents Can Teach Their Children, Part 1: Body Positivity

While our children are being bombarded with messages about body images, here are 5 things we can do to instill body positivity in them. Read more on this weeks blog.

Transforming Body Negativity into Body Positivity The world teaches us to see everything wrong with our bodies. Instead, let’s practice being positive about what our bodies CAN DO and accept the wonderful gift that having a body gives us.

Though not a glamorous topic, we need to know what self-harm is, what the signs and symptoms are, and how to get help if someone we know may be self-harming.

Self-Harm: More than Just Cutting

What is one small thing you can do with your partner that can have a big impact? It's simple, a 20 minute walk!

20 Minutes to More Connection

Just because we might have a blessed life does not mean we can not also feel sad/overwhelmed/lonely, etc. I call this the “YES…and” principle.

The “Yes…and” Principle of Self-Compassion

Instead of making New Year's Resolutions to do LESS of certain things, let’s flip the narrative and focus on doing MORE of the things we truly care about!

The Year of MORE

The key to making this your year is to be the one to make it so.

Make This YOUR Year!

Let’s get ready for the holiday gatherings this year by preparing ourselves and our family members!

How to Set Yourself (and Your Family) Up for Success this Holiday Season

With responsibilities and frustrations stretching us thin, my hope is we see how our first world problems can be on our gratitude list–this holiday season and always.

Finding Gratitude Amidst Our #FirstWorldProblems

As we are gearing up for Thanksgiving gatherings, how we define family may be different for some of us and that is okay!

Friendsgiving: When Friends Become Your Family

President Ronald Reagan declared October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, in1988. Here’s how we can support ourselves and our loved ones through such a loss.

Legacy of Pain: Pregnancy and Infant Loss