Dr. Sara B Dupuis, Ph.D, LP, LMFT

11/21/2025

Healthy relationships grow through honest moments, not by avoiding conflict. When tension rises, what matters most is how we stay connected while caring for our own emotions.

When overwhelm or old wounds get activated, shutting down often feels like the safest option. That is when the difference between a wall and a boundary becomes powerful. A wall is a reflex that closes us off. A boundary is a clear, steady invitation for connection that feels safe.

Walls usually come from fear or emotional overload. They close the door and make it harder for understanding to happen. Boundaries are different. They come from clarity, and they help two people stay in a relationship while honoring what each person needs.

In EFT, we slow everything down so we can understand what is happening underneath the shutdown. Is it fear. Is it hurt? Is it a need that has not been voiced yet. When we can name these emotions, our boundaries begin to support closeness instead of cutting it off.

Practice:
The next time you feel yourself pulling away, try saying, “I need a few minutes to gather my thoughts so I can stay connected when we talk.” This simple pause creates room for calm, clarity, and repair.

Your boundaries are not a burden. They are a pathway to connection that feels safe, loving, and sustainable.

11/21/2025

11/14/2025

Safety and vulnerability are both essential for deeper connection. When we feel grounded enough to share honestly, conversations become clearer and relationships feel more supportive. Even small shifts in how we open up can create space for understanding, closeness, and repair.
If you’re seeking support in strengthening communication or nurturing healthier relationship patterns, Stepping Stones Therapy has compassionate and experienced counselors ready to walk with you. Learn more at www.saradupuisdr.com/stepping-stones-therapy.

11/08/2025

🌿 Therapist Feature: Sara Roach, LLPC

Rebuilding Trust Through Communication

Trust is rebuilt through small, consistent actions and safe communication.

Sara Roach, LMSW, shares:

“Repair happens in small, intentional ways. When partners take ownership, stay curious, and listen to understand rather than defend, trust begins to grow again.”

Healthy relationships are at the heart of emotional wellness. They provide support, reduce stress, and contribute to both mental and physical health. Sara works with individuals, couples, and families to improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen the foundation of their relationships.

At Stepping Stones Therapy, Sara offers a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free space where clients can explore challenges such as:

Rebuilding after infidelity

Navigating parenting struggles

Healing from substance use

Adjusting to divorce, remarriage, or major life changes

✨ Try this relationship check-in:

What emotion did I feel most strongly during the conflict?

What was I needing but didn’t know how to ask for?

What helps me feel safe enough to talk about hard things?

When we speak from our inner experience instead of blame, we create space for healing and reconnection.

Sara integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed strategies to help clients rebuild safety, deepen emotional understanding, and create long-term relationship change.

💛 Sara Roach, LLPC, is currently accepting new clients for in-person and virtual therapy sessions in Lansing, Michigan.

📍 Stepping Stones Therapy
🌐 www.saradupuisdr.com/stepping-stones-therapy
📞 Call or visit our website to schedule your first session.

11/03/2025

Conflict happens in every relationship. Disconnection is part of being human. What matters most is how you come back together.

Here are a few ways to support reconnection after an argument:

Pause to regulate. Take a few minutes to breathe and let your body settle before trying to talk.

Reflect on your part. Ask yourself, “What emotion or need was underneath my reaction?”

Take accountability. Say, “I can see how my tone felt dismissive. That was not my intention.”

Repair the bond. Express care, listen fully, and end with reassurance like, “I care about us and want to move forward together.”

Repair is not about getting it perfect. It is about choosing to come back with presence and empathy.

11/02/2025

When a child is raised by a mother who yells frequently, disregards boundaries, and is emotionally absent, it can have profound and lasting effects on their development and adult life. This type of upbringing often creates an environment of instability, fear, and confusion, which shapes the child's emotional and psychological landscape.

Low Self-Esteem: Constant yelling and criticism can make a child feel worthless and inadequate. As adults, they may struggle with low self-esteem, doubting their abilities and worthiness in personal and professional relationships.

Difficulty Setting Boundaries: Growing up with a parent who didn't respect boundaries can leave an individual unsure of how to set and maintain healthy boundaries in their own life. They might find it hard to say no or protect their personal space, leading to issues in relationships and work environments.

Emotional Dysregulation: An emotionally absent mother can cause a child to struggle with identifying and managing their emotions. As adults, they may experience intense emotional reactions, mood swings, or difficulty calming themselves in stressful situations.

Fear of Abandonment: Emotional absence and instability can instill a deep fear of abandonment. This fear can manifest in adult relationships as clinginess, jealousy, or a constant need for reassurance, making it difficult to form healthy, secure attachments.

Trust Issues: A childhood filled with broken boundaries and emotional neglect can lead to difficulties in trusting others. As adults they may be wary of others' intentions, struggle to form close relationships, and often feel isolated or alone.

Perfectionism and People-Pleasing: To avoid criticism or yelling, children may become perfectionists or people-pleasers. This behavior can carry into adulthood, leading to chronic stress, burnout, and a lack of personal fulfillment.

11/01/2025

Self-compassion is about being kind to yourself, especially during difficult times. It means treating yourself with the same understanding and care you would offer a friend who is struggling.

The first stage involves recognizing and acknowledging your pain. Trauma often brings intense feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame. Self-compassion starts with simply noticing these feelings without judgment.

Trauma can make you feel isolated, as if you're the only one going through such pain. Self-compassion reminds you that you're not alone; many others have faced similar struggles.

Stage three is practicing kindness towards yourself. This means replacing self-criticism with self-care. When you notice those inner critical voices, respond with kindness. In this stage, you actively work on nurturing yourself.

Trauma can cause intense emotional reactions. Through self-compassion, you learn to soothe yourself. Breathing exercises, meditation, or simply pausing to check in with yourself can be very helpful.

As you continue to practice self-compassion, you start building resilience. Self-compassion doesn’t eliminate pain, but it makes you stronger in facing it. You develop a supportive inner voice that encourages and uplifts you during tough times.

A crucial part of healing is forgiveness, particularly self-forgiveness. Trauma often leaves us with regrets or self-blame. Self-compassion involves forgiving yourself for perceived mistakes or failures. It’s about recognizing that you did the best you could under the circumstances.

Finally, in the final stage, self-compassion leads you to embrace your self-worth. Trauma can diminish your sense of value, but self-compassion helps rebuild it. You start to see yourself as deserving of love, respect, and kindness.

As you progress through these stages, you’ll find that self-compassion becomes a natural part of your daily life. It’s an ongoing practice, a way of being that supports you through the ups and downs of healing.

10/30/2025

In every moment of tension, we have a choice.
To react from habit or to respond from awareness.

Reacting often comes from old emotional patterns or protective responses that once helped us feel safe. Responding comes from being present, aware, and connected to what is truly happening right now.

When we pause before speaking or acting, we allow space for clarity, empathy, and understanding to grow. This shift doesn’t mean we avoid conflict or difficult emotions. It means we meet them with greater intention and care.

The more we practice awareness, the more we strengthen our ability to communicate clearly, build trust, and create safety in our relationships.

Awareness turns reactivity into connection. That is where healing begins.