When was the last time you experienced a truly jaw dropping, mind opening, joyfully mysterious experience that led to a glorious exhale of “Awe. . .” How did you feel at the time? In an autonomous culture full of smartphone screens, computer screens, gaming screens and the like, we may be missing out on the amazing experiences that elicit the spellbinding exclamation of the full definition of “awesome.” It is essential that we as humans connect to something larger than oursel

When thinking about coping skills, many of us immediately think of things like taking deep breaths, journaling, reaching out to friends, or engaging in physical activity or a hobby. These are all adaptive (or healthy) coping skills, but there are also maladaptive (or unhealthy) coping skills. Maladaptive coping skills can provide short-term relief but generally cause long-term harm. This blog will focus on one common type of maladaptive coping mechanism: self-harm. Self-harm

Communicating is hard! With so many methods of communication today, it seems so easy for a message to land sideways. Effective communication can be described as: Getting the idea out of my mind and into your mind with as little distortion as possible. Some things that distort and then derail effective communication are assuming negative intent, failure to confirm message was received, projecting unrelated past experiences onto the current situation, being under the influen

Sharing difficult news with children and teens and supporting them through the associated emotions can feel overwhelming, whether the information is specific to that child or family such as a new medical diagnosis or death or related to broader concerns such as national tragedies. This blog is intended to provide guidance on how to navigate these situations in an honest, validating and age appropriate way. Consideration of the child’s age and developmental level is crucial, b

“Ponte las pilas.” If you grew up in a Latino household, you’ve heard it. Tired? Sad? Stuck? Put your batteries in. Try harder. It’s said with love... mostly. A push from a tía, a parent, a partner who just wants to see you back on your feet. Échale ganas. Pull yourself together. Most of the time, it works the way it’s meant to. A small nudge on a hard day. But what happens when the thing pulling you down isn’t something you can power through? For depression, low motivation c

So many qualities make up who we are and how we show-up to interact with others, and when it comes to getting connected in counseling, it’s important to consider those factors. In this article, the words “counseling” and “therapy” describe the same service, just as “counselor, therapist, social worker, clinician, psychotherapist” are often used interchangeably to describe the same professional. There are some significant differences between schooling and work experience among

As a therapist that works primarily with children and youth, I am often asked by caregivers if their children “talked” to me about their problems during our sessions. While I will always welcome any conversation a client wants to have, talking is actually totally unnecessary for a child to work through their thoughts, feelings, and experiences! Play is actually the language of children and far more effective than talk therapy most of the time. While it may look like we are “j

It’s not uncommon for someone to walk into therapy wondering: Is this ADHD... or is this trauma? The truth? Sometimes it’s one. Sometimes it’s both. And sometimes trauma can look so much like ADHD that it’s easy to confuse the two. Understanding the overlap matters — because treatment looks different depending on the root cause. What Is ADHD? Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that typically begins in childhood. It affects execut

Becoming a parent is supposed to be one of the most joyful, fulfilling experiences in life, right? For many people, it is, but it can also be disorienting, exhausting, and emotionally overwhelming. Both experiences can be true at the same time. Many postpartum parents feel pressure to present as happy or “put together.” There is also pressure around bonding and the expected positive emotions. When this doesn’t match your lived experience, this can easily lead to masking. Mask

Sometimes life feels like all too much. Trying to balance aspects of wellness in addition to following through on our necessary responsibilities can leave people feeling spread too thin. For many, this can result in the body and mind “shutting down”. Things don’t feel enjoyable anymore, it’s difficult to get out of bed, and tasks start to feel even more daunting as they continue to build up while motivation becomes more scarce. In this article, we will review practical strate

When winter rolls around, it’s not unusual to feel a little more sluggish or down than usual. The winter blues is a term people often use to describe the mild mood changes that can pop up when daylight hours shrink and colder weather keeps us indoors more often. You might notice feeling less energized, less motivated, or just not quite yourself. For many people, this shift has a lot to do with reduced sunlight, holiday stress, or the emotional weight that winter can bring. T

After the business of the holiday season, we can experience significant stress when facing the demands of daily life. Increased stress leads to negative health changes, such as increased heart rates, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, and affects the quality of our sleep (Chung et al., 2019). This can leave us feeling exhausted, immobilized, and stressed. The buildup of stress over time can become toxic, and lead to poorer immune system function and numerous negative mental

Resolutions and a new year go hand in hand. “New beginnings,” “fresh starts,” and “new year, new you” frequently find their way into commercials, promotional materials, and our collective mindset as we consider a more ideal life. To a certain extent, this approach can be helpful. We identify a goal and have a start date. And yet, the messaging feels laced with the idea that the current you must be discarded for the better you. “Out with the old, in with the new!” Why “New

It seems almost everywhere you look, pets have invaded our lives: we see places you can take your pets, advertisements for putting your pet’s face on custom merchandise, or read about the magic of animal-assisted therapy. Is this just a trendy fad, or is there more to the captivating nature of the human-animal bond? There are numerous benefits to pet ownership that can support our health (including both our mental and physical health). Humans benefit in various ways from bein

It’s more common than people know - person-to-person violence or relational trauma. Many people avoid discussing violence because it either feels too heavy, too heady, or too dark. But when we turn to our inner bravery, we can transform the trauma of violence into many things that benefit ourselves and others; you may be able to help yourself and others identify the problem and heal. The healing process for trauma like this takes a lot of learning, and feeling, and confrontin

Grief is one of the most powerful emotional experiences we can go through. It affects not just our hearts, but our minds — disrupting sleep, concentration, decision-making, and even memory. When someone we care about is grieving, it’s natural to want to help, but often our instinctive responses, though well-intentioned, can unintentionally deepen their pain or isolation. Here ’s what not to say or do when supporting someone who’s grieving — and how to offer real, trauma-info

Have you ever felt stuck trying to find a hobby as an adult? You’re not alone. Many of us struggle to discover activities that bring us joy and fulfillment outside of work and daily responsibilities. But why is it so hard? The good news—it doesn’t have to be. If you’re feeling lost in the search for a hobby, consider this: What would your inner child love to do? It might sound silly at first, but revisiting the activities that once brought you joy can spark a deep sense of re

Conflict is a part of life. Whether it is a disagreement at work, tension with a friend, or a recurring issue with a partner, the...

And why shouldn’t it be? Life can feel overwhelming. The demands of work, family, health, and the internal battles we fight—it’s no...

Yoga, an ancient practice originating in Indian philosophy, has long been celebrated for its profound impact on the body and mind. While...