Rise Above Counseling Services of Tampa Bay, LLC

10/01/2025

Remaining Married When Your Spouse Is Narcissistic

Marriage is already hard work—but being married to someone with strong narcissistic traits brings unique challenges. Some people choose to leave, while others decide to stay. If you’ve chosen to remain, here are a few tools that can help you protect your wellbeing and keep the marriage functional. Check out the link to the blog post.

*This is not medical advice. Please see a qualified professional.  Marriage is already hard work—but being married to someone with strong narcissistic traits brings unique challenges. Some people choose to leave, while others decide to stay. If you’ve chosen to remain, here are a few tools that...

06/24/2025

We visited Sara at Top Buttons St. Pete on Central Ave today. Abigail got to hear about Sara’s passion to help girls, teens and women who have suffered from s*x trafficking. Top Buttons helps women find restoration— a cause I fully support.

05/05/2025

I met Dr. Julie Gottman a few years ago—I was star-struck! She and her husband, Dr. John Gottman, are the creators of the Gottman Method.

From Dr Julie Gottman - here’s how to stop a fight fast - focused on women.You can also check out John’s video on stopping a fight fast for men. These videos...

04/29/2025

Do you have a go-to method for breathwork? I do what I've nicknamed 7/11: I focus on a longer exhale. I notice my heart rate slows when I take a longer exhale. It's a helpful tool for calming an anxious mind.

03/18/2025

Perfectionism and people-pleasing can get the best of us during Spring Break or any other vacation. For me, I try to pick the perfect activity for my kiddos (which is humorous, given they are 17, 14, and 11-- three drastically different phases). It's a lesson about inevitable failure. I want to be the entertainer and plan the perfect vacation day. Ha!
Recognizing this tendency, I will plan a day that is "good enough." It will be enough if the kids describe the day as "kinda neat" instead of "the best day ever."
Even if it rains, or if the activity is a bore to the teens, I know that I planned it with love.

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08/20/2021

Today I felt Covid anxiety. I dealt with it by thinking about the worst possible scenario...once I said it out loud, I felt more at ease...

08/17/2021

https://riseabovetampabay.com/do-i-have-anxiety/
Thirty percent of us will experience anxiety at some point in our lives. That's good company!

If you think you have some anxious tendencies, then welcome to the club. About 30% of us will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in our lives.  If you are experiencing anxiety, you can tackle it. This blog post does not substitute for professional advice, so I suggest that you make an ap...

06/25/2021

Get this---You can plant in your child the seeds for a happy (future) marriage.

Today the boy and I talked about how we can share each other's joy. "Mom, check out what I drew!" "Mom, look at this lizard on the sidewalk." Each time he asks me to stop, pay attention, and comment--I do.

At least I try to. (I'm shooting for at least 80%, folks.)

Sometimes the best response I can give is, "That's cool," or a kind-sounding "hmm...mmm." Regardless, I'm responding to his bid for attention, as the details.

When we turn to our partners' bids for attention, we are honoring our relationships. The bid for attention is a request to share the joy, enjoy the moment--witness the fullness of life.

Try it in your relationship:

Listen for bids.

Respond to your partner, no matter how small or subtle.

Model it for your child:

Invite your child to look at something special with you.

Verbalize the joy you feel from your child's response.

The Gottman Method for healthy relationships consists of these nine research-based characteristics that any therapist or couple can learn to apply.

06/25/2021

I am excited to be profiled in the Psychology Today directory of therapists.

Jacqueline Sager, Pre-Licensed Professional, Largo, FL, 33774, (727) 261-2615, Maybe you've done it all right and your relationship is still falling apart. Maybe you never predicted that you'd stray--and then it just happened. A loving relationship isn't supposed to feel like this, right? Perhaps th...