Kari O'Neill Counseling

07/14/2025

Dear Kari,

My daughter is 17 and is depressed. She says that she “can’t do anything right and feels like giving up.” She is hard to talk to, and nothing I seem to say or do helps. I have tried reminding her that she is special and that everything will turn out all right, but I get nowhere with her. What can I do to make her happy?

- Worried Mom

My daughter is 17 and is depressed. She says that she “can’t do anything right and feels like giving up.” She is hard to talk to, and nothing I seem to say ...

07/07/2025

Dear Kari,

I was at a neighborhood cocktail party and my friend’s husband put his arms around me, grabbed my backside and tried to kiss me. I moved his hands off me and pushed him away, and then I left the room. I realized as I walked away that his wife saw the whole thing. Our kids play together, and now I feel uncomfortable around them. I don’t know if I should say anything to help move things forward or let it go. What do you think I should do?

- Too Close For Comfort

I was at a neighborhood cocktail party and my friend’s husband put his arms around me, grabbed my backside and tried to kiss me. I moved his hands off me an ...

06/30/2025

Dear Kari,

My sister is 38 years old and lives alone. She rarely socializes with others and mostly talks about her dog. She has zero dating life. I am worried about her and her future. She says that she wants to meet someone and have a family, but she never goes out with friends or even dates. How can I get my sister out of her house and help her fall in love with someone?

- Worried Sis

My sister is 38 years old and lives alone. She rarely socializes with others and mostly talks about her dog. She has zero dating life. I am worried about he ...

06/17/2025

Dear Kari,

I went out on a date with a woman one time and now she sends me texts almost daily and tries to talk with me. At first I was interested in her, but after we went out I discovered during the date that she was not someone who I would want to spend more time with. I have tried to be polite and just drop her by not responding to her texts, but she will not take the hint. What can I do to get her to stop contacting me?

- Running for the Hills

I went out on a date with a woman one time and now she sends me texts almost daily and tries to talk with me. At first I was interested in her, but after we ...

06/09/2025

Dear Kari,

I have a teenage daughter that is a sweet child, but she refuses to be affectionate with me. When I try and give her a hug or kiss she turns away. I feel that I am not asking for much, I am her mom who just wants to connect and bond with her. I grew up in a house where my parents kissed and hugged us regularly; how can I get my daughter to warm up to my desire to be close with her?

- Rejected Mom

I have a teenage daughter that is a sweet child, but she refuses to be affectionate with me. When I try and give her a hug or kiss she turns away. I feel t ...

06/02/2025

Dear Kari,

I am at the end of my rope. I love my wife, but I am tired of living in a marriage with no intimacy. We have been married 8 years; I try and be kind and romantic with her, but nothing works to entice her into wanting to be intimate with me. How long do you think I should wait before giving up?

- Frozen Out

I am at the end of my rope. I love my wife, but I am tired of living in a marriage with no intimacy. We have been married 8 years; I try and be kind and rom ...

05/26/2025

Dear Kari,

My colleague at work whom I share a wall with talks loudly on the phone all day. He frequently uses the speakerphone, which makes it that much worse. Closing the door doesn’t help. I have asked him to speak at a lower volume, but that only lasts for an hour or so before he starts up again. It is making my work day miserable; I can barely get my work done anymore because I cannot concentrate. What do you suggest?

- Tuned Out

My colleague at work whom I share a wall with talks loudly on the phone all day. He frequently uses the speakerphone, which makes it that much worse. Closin ...

05/19/2025

Dear Kari,

I have been best friends with my friend Lisa for the past five years, but lately she has pulled herself away from me and I am not sure why. I have asked her if something is wrong and she says no, but I don’t believe her. We did start socializing with some other friends in our neighborhood a few months back, and there is one woman that I think talks badly about me behind my back to others including Lisa. But, I can’t believe that my best friend would side with someone else’s viewpoint over me. What can I do to get her to tell me the truth?

- No Longer BFFs

I have been best friends with my friend Lisa for the past five years, but lately she has pulled herself away from me and I am not sure why. I have asked her ...

05/13/2025

Dear Kari,

My child is struggling in school and I genuinely feel that his teacher does not like him. My son frequently comes home and tells me that his teacher makes fun of him or tells him to be quiet in class. What can I do to support my son and establish support for him in the school setting?

- Worried Mom

https://karioneill.com/2025/05/ask-kari-can-help-child-gain-school-support/

05/05/2025

Dear Kari,

I have a colleague at work that is rude to me. She is passive-aggressive whenever we encounter each other and makes facial gestures that are directed my way. Recently, in a meeting she appeared disinterested when I would talk and purposely looked away from me in a manner that I found disrespectful. It upsets me that she does this to me. Now, I even feel that she is purposely rolling her eyes the moment I open my mouth. How would you handle this?

- Fed Up Colleague

I have a colleague at work that is rude to me. She is passive-aggressive whenever we encounter each other and makes facial gestures that are directed my way ...

04/28/2025

Dear Kari,

We have lovely neighbors who we spend a lot of time with. Last year they invited us to go away with them on vacation for a week and they have asked us to do the same again this summer. We really like them, but spending a week together full time last year was not fun for us. Our friends fought constantly about everything (the daily schedule, where we went to dinner, and how to take care of their children); it was exhausting and ruined our vacation. When we do things together at home, we just leave them if they start fighting, but that doesn’t work as well when traveling with them. How do you suggest we get out of this invite?

- Neighbors Only

We have lovely neighbors who we spend a lot of time with. Last year they invited us to go away with them on vacation for a week and they have asked us to d ...

04/21/2025

Dear Kari,

My older brother is addicted to drugs and alcohol. He has been using drugs since he was 14 and is now 44. He has been in rehab 8 times and is unemployed. He moved back in with my mom and is using her yet again for money, which she does not have a lot of. He lives rent-free in her house and takes what he needs from her. I have tried repeatedly to get her to see the light and realize that he is using her and that she is codependent to his drug habit but it all falls on deaf ears. How can I make my mother realize that he needs to be cut off?

- Desperate Daughter

My older brother is addicted to drugs and alcohol. He has been using drugs since he was 14 and is now 44. He has been in rehab 8 times and is unemployed. He ...