Emotional communication is at the heart of personal growth, yet so many of us struggle with it.
From childhood conditioning to cultural stigmas, expressing our feelings can feel unnatural—or even unsafe. Lamarre Edouard Jr., LPCC (he/him) shares his journey and expertise on unlearning emotional suppression and embracing vulnerability in relationships.
We see emotional struggles play out in pop culture all the time—whether it’s the generational trauma in Encanto or Issa and Molly’s friendship dynamics in Insecure. But how do we start rewriting our own emotional narratives in real life?
How Cultural Narratives Shape Emotional Communication
For many people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups, there’s a deep-rooted stigma around discussing emotions. Lamarre highlights how traditional mental health models often fail to acknowledge cultural ways of healing.
Western therapy tends to focus on talk therapy, but as Lamarre points out, healing takes many forms. “In some cultures, emotional processing happens through storytelling, shared meals, or raising younger generations with intention,” he explains.
Rewriting Emotional Narratives: The First Steps
Lamarre suggests starting by noticing patterns in how emotions are expressed—or suppressed—in your life. “If you find yourself shutting down, feeling defensive, or avoiding difficult conversations, that’s valuable data,” he says. “Your body is already telling you something.”
1. Develop Emotional Awareness
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Pay attention to how emotions manifest physically (tightness in your chest, headaches, or nausea).
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Use mindfulness to observe reactions without judgment.
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Explore tools like journaling or guided reflection to track emotional patterns.
2. Challenge Internalized Beliefs
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Ask yourself: What messages did I receive about expressing emotions growing up?
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Identify narratives that no longer serve you, like “Emotions are a burden” or “Vulnerability is weakness.”
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Engage in media that affirms emotional openness.
3. Practice Low-Stakes Vulnerability
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Start with small disclosures in safe relationships.
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Use “I” statements to express feelings without blame (e.g., “I felt hurt when…”).
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Accept that discomfort is part of growth.
Breaking the Cycle in Relationships
Healthy relationships—whether romantic, platonic, or familial—require emotional safety. Lamarre emphasizes the importance of practicing repair after conflicts. “It’s not about avoiding conflict, but learning how to navigate it constructively,” he says.
Think about The Last of Us, where Joel and Ellie’s relationship grows not through avoiding difficult conversations but by learning to trust each other despite past wounds. Emotional safety isn’t about perfection—it’s about commitment to repair and understanding.
Key takeaways for fostering emotionally safe relationships:
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Acknowledge and validate emotions – Yours and others’.
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Stay curious, not defensive – Ask, “What’s beneath this reaction?”
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Practice repair – Apologize, clarify, and show change through actions.
Final Thoughts: You Are Worth the Effort
Healing emotional wounds isn’t about achieving perfection—it’s about developing self-awareness and choosing growth over avoidance. “We are worth the effort of emotional self-acceptance,” Lamarre reminds us. Just like a hero’s journey in any movie, your emotional evolution is a process—not a single breakthrough moment.
If talk therapy doesn’t feel like the right fit, alternatives like journaling, audio reflections, talking with trusted friends or engaging with educational mental health content on social media can be powerful first steps.
Emotional communication is a skill—and with practice, you’ll rewrite your narrative in ways that serve you better.
About Lamarre Edouard Jr., LPCC (he/him)
As a member of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, Lamarre’s practice is dedicated to honoring the unique intersections of clients' experiences and helping them reconnect with their authentic selves. Lamarre's approach is shaped by his own experiences as the child of Haitian immigrants, growing up in a low-income household, navigating blended family dynamics, and working through his own journey with depression, anxiety, and queerness. He specializes in attachment, polyamory, kink, and relationship communication, using a blend of psychodynamic principles and somatic awareness. He is passionate about helping clients navigate relationship communication, trauma, anxiety, depression, ethically non-monogamous (ENM) or polyamorous dynamics, and those recurring negative self-talk patterns that can feel so difficult to break.
Still Curious?
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Learn more about Lamarre
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Connect on Instagram @embodiedcompassion_
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Watch the full interview on YouTube
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Listen to the full interview on Spotify
