Comment “mean girls” for access to my growing comeback library, Assertive You, my members only area where you can learn what to say & tips to navigate these relationships for less than a therapy copay. As for the 5 reasons why girls turn into grown mean girls, here’s how: She was left out or bullied, so now she makes sure she’s the one doing the excluding. (Exclusion as self-protection & became her armor.) She doesn’t know how to process jealousy, so she stays quiet but starts competing, critiquing, or keeping you at a distance. She learned early that gossip = connection. (It’s how she bonds but at someone else’s expense.) She’s never seen healthy conflict, only passive aggression.  (So she freezes people out instead of speaking up.) She doesn’t feel good enough so she makes others feel small. (That fake confidence? It’s hiding something.) But here’s the truth: You don’t need to call it out to call it what it is. You don’t need to shrink to keep peace. And you don’t need to fix anyone else’s wounds to protect your own. Want real scripts and tools to handle this kind of energy? Join Assertive You, my membership with confident phrases, real-life boundaries, and a community of women who’ve had enough of walking on eggshells. I’m a Johns Hopkins–trained psychologist with a background in CBT, behavioral psychology, and motivational models, my approach blends evidence-based interventions with lived experience to help you navigate relational dynamics, set boundaries, and stop shrinking in friendships. I’ve studied these patterns for years but I’ve also lived it. And I know what actually works. And if you’re here for outfit details, comment OUTFIT, & I’ll send you links! Xo, Dr. C LTKWorkwear LTKStyleTip LTKItBag