Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS

Professional Counselor

Trudi Griffin is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Wisconsin. She specializes in addictions, mental health problems, and trauma recovery. She has worked as a counselor in both community health settings and private practice. She also works as a writer and researcher, with education, experience, and compassion for people informing her research and writing subjects. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. She also earned an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University.

Education

  • Bachelor's degree, Communications and Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
  • Master's degree, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marquette University

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Q&A Comments (219)

I excel at all of these things, but my parents still treat me like a baby. It makes me really angry, and I feel like I'm going to snap. What should I do to convince them to let me stay home alone?
Remember that staying home alone is a privilege, not a right. If you make a big deal out of it, they may become suspicious about your motives. For example, they might think that you want to do things at home that you don't want them to see. In the meantime, all you can do is be respectful and mature. Even if their wishes seem ridiculous to you, follow them. Losing your temper will only make the situation worse.
What do I do if my parent is verbally abusive?
If you have parents who are verbally abusive, there are other problems within the family system that should be addressed through therapy. However, therapy does not change your responsibility to be honest about what happened, deal with the consequences, and create a plan to fix the situation if it’s possible. The goal is to separate losing the item from your parents’ verbal abuse. You can control your behavior and reaction, but you cannot control theirs. One way to help yourself in the situation is to have another trusted adult present when you tell them. Perhaps another family member, or someone who can advocate for you while diffusing your parents’ verbal abuse, acting as a mediator. Sometimes verbally abusive people are less likely to be so when other people are around, especially if it is someone they know and trust. Having a mediator present may help diffuse the initial reaction, but if your parents are verbally abusive to you after that person leaves, then that person can be someone you turn to for additional help.
What should you do if you lost money?
Create a plan to replace the money or the monetary value of something you lost. If you already have a plan in place when you tell your parents you lost it, you are showing maturity, taking responsibility for your actions, and showing them you are willing to be held accountable. By doing something extra to repay the value of the lost item, you are also letting them know that you understand there are consequences for losing things and that you’re not only willing to handle the consequences, but that you know that doing something extra is required.
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Co-authored Articles (296)

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How to Understand Adult Baby Diaper Lovers (ABDLs)

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Deal With People Talking About You Behind Your Back

Learn what to say & do when someone’s gossiping about youIt feels pretty awful to have people talk about you behind your back. Since this kind of gossip may be subtle, it’s often hard to pinpoint the source. For this...

7 Ways to Know if You’re Addicted to Wearing Diapers

A guide to recognizing your addiction and changing your habits While many enjoy using diapers for recreation, comfort, security, emotional support, or even sexual satisfaction, there may come a point where your behavior ...

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Overcome a Fear of Sex

A sexual encounter is loaded with potential for positive and negative results. Inexperience, lack of knowledge, or a history of sexually related difficulties may be escalating your fear of engaging in sexual activity. Wo...

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Die with Dignity

Receiving a terminal diagnosis is never easy. Dying with peace and dignity can be a difficult goal to accomplish. Although it may be very difficult, you can make some decisions that will allow you to feel dignified throu...

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Include Spanking in Child Discipline

Effective discipline is when a parent or caretaker is able to shape a child’s actions to create desirable behavior. The focus of any disciplinary action should be on creating order and promoting good moral character. ...

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Overcome an Addiction to Porn As a Teenager

Below are steps you can take to find out if you have a porn addiction, ways to understand the problem, and tips for changing your habits so that your temptation lessens. Don't be afraid to seek help from responsible adul...

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Stop Thinking About Suicide

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Accept Being Unattractive

Flaws exist only in the eye of the beholder. It is possible to accept all parts of yourself and feel beautiful. If you think that you are unattractive, there are many things that you can do to improve your self-image, su...

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Make a Woman Feel Sexy

Making a woman feel sexy doesn’t have to be a complicated mystery. Whether you are just starting out in your relationship or have been together for years, there are ways to make her feel sexy, desired, and attractive. ...

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Convince Yourself Not to Commit Suicide

Suicidal thoughts happen when the deep pain you're feeling seems impossible to overcome. It might hurt so much that suicide seems like the only way you can find relief from whatever is troubling you. But there are other ...

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Stop Laughing at Inappropriate Times

Although laughing at inappropriate times can be embarrassing, it’s actually a natural reaction for some people when they’re facing a highly stressful situation. This could be because laughter makes you feel better ab...

How to Feel Better & More Comfortable Naked

Practical steps for feeling better when you’re nudeThere are some people who feel more comfortable when they are naked than when they are fully clothed. Many people, however, feel extremely uncomfortable with nudity, w...

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Know if a Person Is Interested in You

If someone is flirting with you, does this mean they’re interested in you? It can be difficult to know when someone is interested in you, especially because you probably don’t want to feel rejected. Knowing if a pers...

How to Deal When You're Feeling Ugly

The pressure to be conventionally good-looking is so strong, even toddlers stress about it. You may feel ugly some of the time, or you may feel ugly most of the time. Either way, feeling ugly is no reason to deny yourse...

The Omega Male Personality Type: Definition, Traits, & More

Everything you need to know about the misunderstood omega male You've probably heard about alpha males—but what about omega males? They're basically the opposite of an alpha, but that's not necessarily a bad thing! Wh...

How to Ask Your Girlfriend’s Parents for Their Blessing

Your guide to popping the question before popping the questionWhen it comes to proposing, your girlfriend might not be the only person you ask for her hand in marriage. If you or your girlfriend are fairly traditional, t...

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Recognize Signs of Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disorder characterized primarily by difficulty reading. Affecting up to 20% of people in the United States, with millions more likely undiagnosed, dyslexia has to do with how the brain works and is...
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