We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m such a perfectionist.” Sometimes it’s said with pride, like being a perfectionist is just having high standards. Other times, it’s said with a sigh, as if perfectionism is a burden that makes life exhausting. Perfectionism can be both. You might be driven by a desire to do well, ...

Depression is one of the most common mental health struggles worldwide, yet it is often misunderstood. Why? Because it doesn’t look the same for everyone. Men and women tend to experience and express depression differently, and those differences can have a significant impact on whether someone gets the support they need. Understanding these nuances ...

Living with ADHD presents real challenges. Difficulty maintaining focus, managing time, and staying organized can significantly impact work, school, and relationships. However, ADHD also comes with distinct strengths that deserve recognition. The same neurological differences that create certain challenges also contribute to valuable cognitive and behavioral traits. Understanding these strengths provides a more comprehensive ...

The holiday season brings twinkling lights, festive gatherings, and the promise of quality time with loved ones. Yet for many professional women and mothers, this time of year triggers a wave of anxiety that can feel overwhelming. If you find yourself dreading the holidays rather than looking forward to them, you’re not alone. Understanding ...

Strong communication forms the foundation of any healthy relationship. When partners struggle to express themselves or truly listen to one another, misunderstandings accumulate and emotional distance grows. Learning to communicate more effectively creates space for authentic connection and mutual understanding. Many couples find themselves repeating the same arguments despite their best efforts. These patterns ...

Learning how EMDR therapy works shows why it ranks among the most effective treatments for trauma and emotional distress. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) uses evidence-based techniques to help your brain process painful, unresolved experiences. Instead of simply talking about the past, EMDR actively reorganizes how your brain stores those memories, reducing ...

Autism, officially known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition characterized by differences in social interactions, communication, and behavior. One of the most prominent features of autism is the experience of sensory activities. These sensitivities have range, and they can affect how individuals with autism perceive and respond to their environment. What ...

Family dinners, couples cuddled by the fireplace, and endless ads about giving the perfect gift to your partner. The holidays are often painted as the season of togetherness. For those who are single, this time of year can sometimes feel like a spotlight on what’s missing. While being single during the holidays can ...

Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding experiences, but it can also be one of the most exhausting. Between managing grocery lists, coordinating schedules, navigating emotional meltdowns, and meeting work deadlines, finding a moment to yourself can feel nearly impossible. It’s really no wonder that so many parents feel overwhelmed. But here’s something important ...

Being a transgender teen today comes with unique challenges. Between navigating their identity, facing potential discrimination, and managing the typical pressures of adolescence, young trans people need supportive adults in their lives more than ever. The statistics are clear: transgender youth with strong family and community support show dramatically better mental health outcomes ...

Divorce is an unpleasant term that no one is ever truly prepared to face. It’s often viewed as a legal ending involving signatures, the division of your assets, and a change in your official status. Many people will ask questions about your logistics, who is getting what, and your plans moving forward. But what ...

Anxiety affects people from all walks of life, but for people of color (POC), the experience often carries additional layers of complexity. Beyond the typical worries and stressors that anyone might face, POC communities navigate unique challenges that can significantly impact their mental health. These include systemic discrimination, cultural expectations, intergenerational trauma, and ...

Time management can feel like an uphill battle when you have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Traditional planning methods often fall short because ADHD brains process information differently, making it challenging to track time, prioritize tasks, and maintain focus on long-term goals. The good news is that visual planning methods can transform how you approach ...

Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment option. Different approaches resonate with other people. One method that’s been gaining attention in recent years is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. At first glance, the name might sound like it’s about family counseling, but it’s actually about exploring the family of parts within ourselves. IFS is based ...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among teenagers. Rates have climbed sharply since the mid-2000s, with particularly concerning increases among adolescent girls and marginalized youth. It’s a heartbreaking and challenging topic to discuss, but one we cannot ignore. Behind these statistics ...

Financial infidelity occurs when partners who share finances deliberately hide money-related information from each other. This includes secret bank accounts, hidden debts, undisclosed purchases, or lying about income. Unlike simple disagreements about spending, financial infidelity involves intentional deception that can devastate trust in your relationship. Common Signs of Financial Infidelity Watch for these red flags ...

Single-incident trauma occurs when we experience one overwhelming event that threatens our safety or survival. Think of a severe car accident, a natural disaster, an assault, or witnessing a violent event. These experiences shock our system, creating a clear dividing line in our lives. There’s who we were before the event and who ...

Watching someone we care about navigate grief can leave us feeling helpless. We want to ease their pain, say the right words, and offer comfort, yet we often find ourselves unsure how to truly help. If you’re supporting a grieving friend or family member, you’re not alone in wondering whether you’re doing too ...

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the 1970s, combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices rooted in acceptance. The term “dialectical” refers to the integration of seemingly opposite concepts, acceptance, and change. This therapeutic approach recognizes that you can accept your current situation while simultaneously working toward positive transformation. Originally designed to ...

Burnout has become an epidemic in modern workplaces, affecting professionals across all industries and career stages. This state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion doesn’t happen overnight. It’s often the result of prolonged stress and an imbalance between our work demands and personal needs. The consequences extend far beyond feeling tired; burnout can ...

The connection between childhood trauma and chronic pain is more profound than many people realize. When we experience trauma early in life, our nervous system learns to stay on high alert, creating lasting changes in how our brain processes both emotional and physical sensations. This hypervigilant state can contribute to chronic pain conditions ...

No matter what your beliefs are, it’s probably safe to say that the world has been feeling chaotic and overwhelming to some capacity. It’s in times like these that many people search for a deeper meaning, a sense of purpose that makes anything feel connected to something bigger than them. Spiritual counseling offers a ...

Many men today find themselves shouldering enormous responsibility, the unspoken expectation to provide. Not just financially, but emotionally and mentally. The world may have changed, but the old belief that “a man’s worth is what he can provide” still runs deep. The pressure manifests in sleeplessness, constant anxiety, and a nagging voice that whispers ...

Depression is often viewed as an emotional disorder, but its impact goes far beyond mood. Many people with depression experience changes in how they think, focus, and remember. These cognitive symptoms can make daily life feel foggy or frustrating. Understanding how depression affects cognition helps make sense of these challenges and points toward ...

Sex after 50 can feel like uncharted territory. Our bodies may not respond the way we’re used to, and that can leave us feeling frustrated or disconnected from our partner. Some of us even wonder if intimacy is something we’re supposed to leave behind as we age. This stage of life can actually ...

Self-esteem is the way we see and value ourselves, and it plays a huge role in how we interact with others. It influences the way we communicate, set boundaries and handle conflict. When our self-esteem is healthy, relationships tend to feel balanced and respectful. When it’s low, misunderstandings, people-pleasing or unnecessary conflict often ...

Losing a job can shake your sense of stability, identity, and confidence. Whether you were laid off unexpectedly or saw it coming, the emotional impact is real. It is not just about losing income. It is also about losing structure, purpose, and connection. As you navigate the uncertainty of job hunting, taking care ...

Living in Alaska, you know how the long, dark winters can affect your mood and energy. As daylight hours shrink and temperatures drop, many of us feel less motivated and more withdrawn from daily life. While some people experience mild “winter blues,” others struggle with something more significant: seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is ...

If you’ve ever explored the idea of therapy, whether specifically geared towards trauma or just in the general sense, you’ve likely come across the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) method. EMDR has gained increasing recognition as a highly effective and powerful therapeutic approach for treating emotional distress. Beyond its successful outcomes, many people ...

Attachment trauma often begins in childhood. It may develop when a child experiences neglect or when caregivers are emotionally unavailable. These early experiences influence how women see themselves. They also shape the way women relate to others and how they develop trust and experience intimacy. Attachment trauma often results in feelings of anxiety ...

Today’s world does not often leave much room for romance. Between demanding jobs, household and parenting responsibilities, and daily exhaustion, quality time with your partner can feel like it is constantly being pushed aside. No matter how much you love each other, your connection can begin to feel more like roommates than a ...

Children process and express trauma differently from adults. While we often associate PTSD with veterans or survivors of violence, children can also develop PTSD from accidents, medical procedures, natural disasters, abuse, or witnessing frightening events. Even experiences that seem manageable to adults can be overwhelming for a child’s developing nervous system. Research in neurobiology ...

Learning that your teen may identify as LGBTQIA+ can feel surprising, confusing, or even overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure how to respond. Despite loving your child no matter what, this may be news that you didn’t anticipate and a future that looks a bit different from you imagined for them. It’s normal to ...

If you’re living with the effects of trauma, you might feel like you’re carrying an invisible weight that never quite goes away. Maybe you react to situations in ways that confuse you, feel disconnected from yourself or others, or struggle with emotions that seem to appear out of nowhere. Whatever its source, trauma disconnects ...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood as simply being extremely clean and neat. In reality, it’s a complex mental health issue that affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact daily life. Understanding how OCD manifests in adults is the first step toward recognizing when it’s time to seek help. What is OCD? OCD ...

In a healthy relationship, both partners ideally contribute equally. Each cares for the other in the way they themselves would want to be cared for. Of course, this balance naturally shifts from time to time—for example, when your partner experiences a loss, you might need to step up more. These temporary fluctuations are normal ...

Have you ever felt your heart race at the sound of a car horn, even when you’re perfectly safe? Or found yourself unable to relax, constantly scanning for danger that isn’t there? If you’ve experienced trauma, your body might be stuck in survival mode and there’s a biological reason for it. What happens to ...

Friendship is one of life’s most joyful connections. A good friend can make you laugh when you’re overwhelmed, listen when you’re hurting, and remind you who you are when you’ve lost your way. Yet as adults, maintaining and even recognizing healthy friendships can be surprisingly difficult. Between work demands, family responsibilities, and the ...

Reiki and meditation are both powerful healing practices on their own, yet they work in slightly different ways. Reiki channels universal life energy to balance the body, mind, and spirit, while meditation helps quiet the mind and deepen self-awareness. When you combine these two modalities, something transformative can happen; you gain a deeper sense ...

Every relationship begins with connection. You feel like you have found your person, someone who truly understands you. But over time, that initial spark can fade. Life happens. Work demands increase. Stress accumulates. It is not uncommon for couples to find themselves questioning whether they have fallen out of love. However, the truth is ...

Infidelity can feel like an earthquake in your relationship. In the aftermath, you may swing through a variety of emotions, including anger, grief, guilt, confusion, and everything in between. You might wonder if you can come back from this, or if therapy is even worth trying. The truth is, healing after a betrayal like ...

If you’ve been through a difficult childhood or an abusive relationship, you probably don’t consider your trauma as having a single event. You might even wonder whether trauma therapies will work for your situation, since it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly your trauma comes from. Many people think EMDR only works for single ...

Mental health treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. What helps one person find relief might not work the same way for someone else. That’s why many therapists and clients are exploring innovative approaches by combining traditional therapy methods like talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with brain-based techniques like neurofeedback therapy. Understanding how these ...

Have you ever felt torn between different parts of yourself? Maybe there’s a harsh inner critic pushing you toward perfection while another part just wants to rest. Or perhaps you notice a protective voice that keeps you from getting too close to others, even when you crave connection. These aren’t signs of confusion ...

Trauma causes more than just an emotional wound. It is an experience that changes how the brain processes information, manages stress, and interacts with the world. When someone experiences trauma, the brain does not simply move on. Instead, it adapts for survival. These adaptations can be protective in the moment but often lead ...

If you’ve ever tried to talk through emotional pain in therapy and felt like the words just didn’t reach the root of what you’re feeling, you’re not alone. Some experiences are so deeply embedded in the body and nervous system that traditional talk therapy can’t fully access them. That’s where brainspotting therapy comes in. ...

Watching your teenager struggle with motivation can be both heartbreaking and frustrating. Whether they’re avoiding homework, skipping extracurricular activities, or seeming disinterested in their future, unmotivated teens often leave parents feeling helpless and concerned. Remember that motivation isn’t a switch that can be flipped overnight. It’s a skill that develops over time through practice, ...

Grief is a deeply personal experience that can affect each and every person in unique ways. One of the most complex and often misunderstood emotions that comes along with the grieving process is anger. Anger is an emotion that is commonly associated with loss. As common as it is, anger is often dismissed or ...

Performance anxiety is a common phenomenon, yet it’s often one that is misunderstood. It can show up in many different areas of life, whether giving a work presentation, competing in a sporting event, engaging in everyday social interactions, or during intimate moments with your partner. Feeling your heart beginning to race, your breathing becoming ...

Disagreements and conflict are an inevitable part of life. Any relationship, whether with a friend, family member, colleague, or partner, will face disagreements. In intimate relationships, conflict shouldn’t automatically ring an alarm that the relationship is failing. Instead, it should be viewed as an opportunity for personal and relationship growth. It’s how we choose ...