People pleasers don't simply want to make others happy, but fear them feeling uncomfortable or upset, Summer Forlenza, a trauma therapist based in California, told BI. It feels threatening and jolts them into the "fawn response," which is when someone reacts to a threat by suppressing their feelings to appease someone else.

“It's really common for caregivers to feel guilt or anxiety about their child's condition, about their child's skin, and that feeling of, I'm not doing enough. And one thing I say to almost every caregiver I've ever worked with is, this feels hard because it is hard. There's not a single caregiver on this planet who has been able to avoid feeling that at one time or another. And so when we're talking about self-compassion for folks who are caregiving, I always like to focus on just making space for the tough emotions that are a part of the experience and a part of the role.”

Knowing the difference between healthy independence and hyper-independence is tricky. But if you are hyper-independent, learning how to ask for help can benefit both your relationships and overall mental health.

Healthy Independence Vs. Hyper-Independence

“Hyper-independence is over-relying on yourself and under-relying on others. It’s also known as toxic independence,” Summer Forlenza, a licensed family and marriage therapist who specializes in the impacts of trauma, told HuffPost.

Physical touch with a partner can pose a challenge when your skin flares. And whether you’re with a new or a long-term partner, navigating conversations about intimacy and eczema can feel like a mental rollercoaster.

We spoke with Summer Forlzena, a licensed therapist at Forlenza Marriage and Family Therapy, Inc. and a person with eczema, as well as Patricia Cervini, an outspoken eczema advocate, about managing physical touch during a flare.

It’s easy to see eczema’s physical impacts. However, if you have eczema, you’re likely also aware of the emotional wounds that can last our entire lives. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Summer Forlenza, an eczema warrior and TSW survivor herself, talks us through how to tell if eczema has caused us trauma and what we can do to begin healing.

Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation is excited to welcome back Summer Forlenza, LMFT, licensed therapist and mental health expert, for a live Q&A on setting healthy boundaries with family, protecting your peace during the holidays, and more!

Conversation with a trauma survivor all about thriving after trauma and how we can heal.

While it's natural to focus on the negative after trauma, Summer and Barb remind us of the importance of remembering that post-traumatic growth is possible.

Tune in to listen to Allyson and Summer discuss the complexity of recoverying from complex trauma and eating disorders. Learn practical skills to help you feel safer in your body now - and discover why this is so important for sustained recovery.

We discuss how trauma neurobiologically changes the brain and body, how dissociation is a common survival strategy but one we need to move through for true healing, how to cultivate safety in the body, some common myths and misconceptions associated with trauma and signs of progress, which can often feel hard to identify!

Learn some of the root causes of body image issues and how to avoid falling into mal-adaptive behaviors.

Summer Forlenza joins us on Therapy Talks to delve into the spectrum of eating disorders and disordered eating, the link between trauma and EDs, and how you can support a loved one who may be struggling.