When something is weighing on us, one of the first things we often do is reach out to someone we trust. A friend might listen, offer encouragement, make us laugh, or simply sit with us while we work through a difficult moment. Supportive friendships can be incredibly valuable for our emotional well-being. So, if talking to a friend can make us feel better, what makes therapy different? The answer isn’t that one is better than the other. Friends and therapists provide differen

Difficulties in relationships often present as primary concerns in therapy, whether they are with a partner(s), family, or friends. Most often, communication is at the root of the trouble and it is important to have practical tips to learn better strategies to enhance all relationships. 1. Practice Active Listening When someone is speaking, focus on understanding rather than preparing your response. Maintaining eye contact, asking clarifying questions, and reflecting back wha

When anxiety takes over, it can feel like your mind is racing ahead into worst-case scenarios while your body reacts as though danger is just around the corner. Your heart races, your thoughts spiral, and it can become difficult to feel in control. Grounding techniques are simple tools that can help create a sense of calm. They are designed to reconnect you with the present. They work by shifting your attention away from anxious thoughts and toward your immediate environment,

Either let go or get dragged. That's the statement my yoga teacher said at the beginning of a class last week. We were all asked our reactions to this and I promptly informed her and the class that I am DEFINITELY getting dragged! The world has seemed to be a fever dream the past year or two. We all are having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the silver lining on the cloud, the lemonade from lemons, etc. Most p

Summer is often seen as a season of relaxation, travel, and sunlight. But in between the beach days (west coast beaches for the win) and...

In the previous blog, I discussed the idea that therapy is not just for crises. Undoubtedly, when someone mentions they go to therapy,...

There has long since been the belief that you have to be in crisis to go to therapy. Or that something has to be exceptionally wrong for...

Recently, I've been intrigued by the idea that when we wear rose colored glasses, red flags just look like flags. It's been said by many...

Recently, a client and I discussed the idea of a person being considered high-maintenance. Until delving into this conversation, I had...

Recently, at a yoga class, we explored the meaning of balance and compared it to the meaning of harmony. Some people in the class...

One day, I was "triggered." I know that has become a buzzword over the past few years, but it's totally a thing. It seems more people are...

I ask clients what they are hoping to achieve in therapy. Inevitably, many respond with "I just want to be happy." This, in and of...

The short answer: YES. Now let’s delve into the longer answer. In my recent mad dash to be sure I have enough continuing education...

I could have sworn I was just belting out the remix of Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas at the top of my lungs to an audience of...

I cannot count the number of times I’ve talked with clients about forgiveness. It seems like there is a societal ideal to absolve others...

Yep, many of us do! We face similar challenges to those of our clients and we often need help understanding and exploring things. Despite...

Every therapy journey has a beginning and an ending. The first session is one in which information is gathered and shared, goals are...

My heart is heavy as I become more and more aware of the astronimical increase of anti-Asian rhetoric and violence. It was already bad...

Here we are again at that time of year when we are drooling over Black Friday sales, celebrating various holidays, and starting to think...

Honestly, my clients know that I sometimes say off the wall things. Ok, more than sometimes. I like to use metaphors (like every dyed in...