Blog, News, & Updates
New Year, New Possibilities: Focusing on What You Can Control
The start of a new year is a time when many of us reflect on the past and look forward to the future. It’s a season of hope, renewal, and the possibility of change. While the idea of New Year’s resolutions can sometimes feel cliché or overwhelming, the truth is that...
Understanding Shame: Turning Silence into Connection
Shame is a universal human emotion—one that each of us has likely encountered at some point in our lives. Though it can feel overwhelming and isolating, shame is a normal and even natural part of our emotional landscape. Understanding how shame works, how it manifests...
Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder: Strategies for Finding Light in the Dark Months
As the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, many people find themselves feeling sluggish, down, or even hopeless. These feelings are often attributed to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that typically occurs during the fall and winter...
Therapy is not a Scam, It’s Science!
A Scientific View of Why Therapy Works to Change the Brain Neuroplasticity, often referred to as brain plasticity, is the process by which the brain reorganizes its structure and functions in response to learning, experience, or environmental changes. Traditionally,...
Harnessing the Power of Gratitude: A Practical Tool for Navigating Life’s Challenges
Gratitude is often suggested as a way to improve mental health, yet it can feel like an abstract concept, especially when life is hard. How can we focus on gratitude when we’re overwhelmed with challenges? While it’s easy to dismiss gratitude as overly simplistic,...
Navigating Holiday Emotions: A Therapist’s Guide to Balance
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, warmth, and connection—a season where family gatherings, celebrations, and traditions take center stage. But for many people, the emotions of the holidays are far more complex. This time of year can stir up a mix...
Why Change Is So Tough: A Therapist’s Perspective
Have you ever set a goal to eat healthier, exercise more, or finally tackle that big project? Only to find yourself back at square one a few weeks later? You're not alone. The human brain is a complex organ, and it's wired to resist change. In this post, we'll delve...
Understanding Emotional Regulation: A Key to Mental Well-Being
Emotions are a fundamental part of being human. They color our experiences, guide our decisions, and influence how we interact with the world around us. However, emotions can also become overwhelming, especially when we're faced with stress, anxiety, or difficult...
Healing From Religious Trauma
Religious trauma is a topic that often remains shrouded in silence, yet it affects countless individuals. The impact of religious experiences—both positive and negative—on mental health is profound. A connection to a deity can bring a sense of purpose and comfort, but...
Living a Rich and Meaningful Life: Embracing the Fullness of Our Human Experience
When I meet with clients, I often tell them my goal is to help them live a “rich and meaningful life”, but what does that mean? When we think of a “rich” life, it’s easy to imagine luxury homes, flashy cars, exotic vacations, or financial success. These are often the...
The Journey…
Prior to my personal journey in therapy, I found myself feeling timid and insecure in new situations. This experience caused me to avoid environments that were challenging or offered the opportunity to fail. It wasn’t until I went to therapy that I was encouraged to...
The Rationality of Emotions
Emotional Does Not Equal Irrational It is a prevalent misconception that emotions are inherently irrational. In our society, any display of emotion is often deemed unacceptable or weak. Many perceive emotions as chaotic, uncontrollable forces that obscure judgment and...