Romantic and sexual attraction can certainly overlap when you have feelings for someone. However, they are both distinctive types of attraction that can be important to understand when you’re trying to make sense of those feelings. That can be especially true in LGBTQIA+ relationships. If you’re newer to the community and still trying to ...

Healthy communication is the bedrock of every thriving relationship. Whether you’re navigating the early stages of dating or you’ve been together for years, how you communicate can significantly impact your connection, intimacy, and ability to resolve conflict. Misunderstandings, assumptions, and unspoken feelings create distance, while intentional, open dialogue brings partners closer together. If ...

Play is a creative and adventurous activity that comes naturally to children. It is a time where they can feel alive, entering a world that is entirely their own. Therapists can sometimes utilize something called Play Therapy into counseling sessions as a way to build trust and safety. In relation to this, Theraplay is ...

Communication is the foundation of every healthy relationship, whether in the workplace, among friends, or with your partner. However, it is easy to take the ability to communicate for granted and neglect effective communication skills. Effective communication is the thread that weaves through the emotional, physical, social, and intellectual components of positive interactions. It ...

In any relationship, open and honest communication is the glue that holds everything together. But ironically, some of the most important conversations, like talking about how the relationship itself is going, can also be the hardest to have. Whether you’re feeling distant, going through a rough patch, or simply wanting to reconnect, starting ...

When most people hear about PTSD, they often think of war veterans or survivors of natural disasters. While these are indeed common sources of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect anyone who has experienced a deeply distressing event. But what does PTSD actually look like in daily life? Here are the main ...

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a fantastic resource for helping individuals focus on acceptance and change in their lives. It can make it easier to manage strong emotions while improving relationships and reducing negative self-talk. While many people benefit from individual DBT, you might also want to consider group DBT if you need help ...

There are many different ways to manage and cope with depression. Self-care practices can make it easier to manage your symptoms on a daily basis as you work with a mental health professional. One of the best self-care practices to have a positive influence on your mental well-being is meditation. Meditation can sometimes get stereotyped. ...

If you’ve recently had a baby and you’re feeling more on edge than expected, you’re not alone. Roughly 1 in 5 women experience postpartum anxiety, but because it’s less talked about than postpartum depression, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. So, how do you know if what you’re feeling is typical new-mom stress or ...

Are you feeling adrift in a sea of career possibilities, unsure of which direction to take? One of life’s most challenging and consequential choices is choosing a career path. With a dizzying array of options and conflicting advice, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. You may worry about making the wrong choice or feel ...

Depression doesn’t discriminate between men and women. The feelings and symptoms are often the same. However, men and women might display them differently for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest reasons why depression in men can manifest itself differently has to do with stigma. There are still some outdated societal norms that ...

Not everyone has a loving, warm, secure experience as they grow up. Unfortunately, far too many children are victims of trauma. It can stem from abuse or neglect, major family changes, or even witnessing a traumatic event at a young age. That kind of trauma can stay with you well into adulthood, especially if ...

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy suggests we all have different “parts” inside us. But there’s also a core “Self” beneath it all. It’s not something you need to create — it’s already within you. The Self embodies qualities like compassion, curiosity, and calm. It’s who you are at your core, separate from the ...

Stress is the body’s natural reaction and response to situations or events that are physically or mentally challenging. Most people will experience stress many times throughout their lifetime. Short-term stress is even considered to be normal. Stress that never seems to go away, however, isn’t something anyone should have to live with. Not all ...

If you had to guess what one of the most common mental disorders in the United States is, what would you say? Believe it or not, the answer is depression. It’s normal for everyone to experience times of sadness or being down from time to time, but depression is a serious condition that can ...

Communication is not limited to speech. Even in silence, we are communicating. For couples who worry about their lack of communication, it is imperative that both partners closely examine their communication choices. Such choices lay a foundation for how your relationship will go. Healthy communication serves as a key to unlocking higher levels ...

When you picture depression, you might imagine someone who struggles to get out of bed, who isolates themselves, and who’s constantly in tears. But depression doesn’t always look like this. For some, it’s quieter, subtler, and harder to spot. This is what we call high-functioning depression. While it’s not a formal diagnosis in the ...

If there’s a silver lining to anxiety being such a common mental health condition, it’s that there are many treatment and management solutions. However, some of those solutions require medication. While anxiety medication can certainly help, it’s not for everyone. Maybe you would like to go the natural route, or try a few different ...

May isn’t just about spring flowers. It’s also Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when we shine a spotlight on an often-overlooked aspect of our well-being. But why is this month so crucial? Mental health is still a touchy subject for many. Despite all our progress in other areas, we’re often reluctant to ...

We’ve already talked about what cognitive behavioral therapy is and what to expect if you decide it’s the right modality for you. But, with so many people dealing specifically with anxiety, you might be wondering why CBT seems to work so well. Again, CBT focuses on the interconnectedness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. That ...

The CDC estimates that over 6% of adults and over 11% of children have a current ADHD diagnosis. It’s a fairly common disorder, and many people have a basic understanding of at least some of the symptoms. However, fewer people know what it’s like to actually undergo testing for ADHD. For children, especially, the ...

If you’ve experienced trauma, you might be surprised to learn that excessive screen time and digital overload could actually interfere with your healing process. When you’ve lived through trauma, it can be hard to regulate your nervous system. Encountering perceived threats can cause your anxiety to skyrocket. Online content is designed to grab ...

It’s estimated that approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While autism looks different from person to person, there’s no denying that it can impact your child’s life forever. Even though we’re lucky to live in a time when the stigma surrounding autism continues to drop, it ...

As your teenager develops their own worldview, you may find yourself navigating unfamiliar territory when their political beliefs diverge from your own. This ideological divide can create tension and conflict within families, leaving parents unsure of how to respond. However, this situation also presents an opportunity for growth, understanding, and meaningful dialogue. In today’s ...

Relationships are complicated, right? Whether they are romantic, familial, or platonic, any relationship can come with challenges. Sometimes, we make mistakes that affect the relationship. But these mistakes do not have to define us. Instead, they can be growth opportunities. The key is to learn from them so that you do not repeat ...

If you’re interested in organizing a wellness workshop for your workplace, the first step is to educate yourself on what to expect. Wellness workshops have so many benefits, but you’ll likely run into a lot of questions from others once the idea is proposed. Fostering a basic understanding of what these workshops are, why ...

You can’t avoid the myriad of motivational posts and reels online. According to them, it’s always time to grind and strive and make your mark. There can be a place for a version of this, but for many women, it’s a one-way ticket to perfectionism. All those filtered images, deep fakes, and doctored ...

Even though we’re well into the 21st century, racism is still running rampant throughout the world. It might look a bit different than it used to, but it still shows up in subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) ways. However, even if you haven’t been a victim of racism directly, you might still feel ...

Ever feel like you’re drowning in someone else’s emotional baggage? You might be on the receiving end of trauma dumping. It’s that uncomfortable situation where someone close to you unloads their most profound experiences on you without warning. While it’s great to be there for others, constant trauma dumping can leave you feeling ...

Do you find it easy and natural to communicate with most family members? Maybe you recognize that your communication habits are unique because you’ve seen how other families talk to each other just a bit differently. There is something exciting about family communication patterns and how they help to define dynamics and relationships within ...

Everyone experiences moments when they feel like they have failed or are not living up to their potential. These feelings can be especially heavy when they are tied to personal or professional expectations. However, learning how to cope with these feelings is essential for growth and emotional well-being. As a therapist specializing in men’s ...

Being a caregiver can be one of the most rewarding jobs out there. It can also be one of the most underappreciated. Caregivers are often the people who will push aside their own wants and needs so they can give someone else their full and undivided attention. A caregiver’s day-to-day responsibilities consist of caring ...

Depression is a serious but common mental health condition. It is a mood disorder that can impact the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Changes in eating and sleeping habits, a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed, and persistent sadness are just a few of the common signs and ...

When anxiety takes over, you’d do anything to help relieve it. If only there was a way to be a bit more proactive and help reduce or even stop it from happening before it actually happens. Instead, you’re forced to be reactive and respond or slowly wait it out until it passes. The best ...

Have you experienced trauma that’s hard to shake? Flashbacks, nightmares, and constant reminders can make it difficult to move on. While traditional therapy and medication can help, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) offers a unique approach. This innovative psychotherapy combines elements from various treatments to relieve psychological trauma. It’s proven effective for ...

Every May, we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. But what exactly is mental health? It’s the cornerstone of your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how you think, feel, and act, shaping your ability to handle stress, connect with others, and make healthy choices. By nurturing your mental health, you’re paving the ...

Striving for competence and achievement is something we all should do. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be your best or having high expectations for yourself. However, there’s a fine line between high competency and perfectionism. You might not think perfectionism is a negative thing. After all, what’s wrong with wanting to be the ...

Losing someone is never easy. Even if you knew it was coming, it doesn’t make the loss any easier. Someone who used to be a constant in your life is gone, and there’s no chance of them returning again. Coming to terms with this heartbreaking reality is a heavy burden to bear. No matter ...

Breaking up is hard to do. Whether you know it was for the best or were blindsided by the end of your relationship, a breakup is a loss. It’s okay to grieve that loss, and there’s no ideal timeline for how long it will take you to “get over” things. With that in mind, ...

Have you ever had life experiences that make you feel out of control? Everyone has. In such instances, we can lose sight of our ability to practice self-discipline. In the name of shifting this dynamic, we want to tell you about dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Don’t be fooled by the multisyllabic name. DBT is ...

PTSD is not an unfamiliar term, but for many, it is often misunderstood. While typically associated with military life and war veterans, it’s also prevalent among the general population. PTSD can be considered a crossroads between past moments and the present — when your mind cannot distinguish between past trauma and your current reality. ...

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. From depression and anxiety to PTSD and even eating disorders, this type of therapy helps individuals identify negative thoughts and thought patterns so they can change their perspective on those thoughts and eventually change the ...

High school can be tough for anyone — but for LGBTQ+ students, it can be particularly difficult and painful. While many schools are becoming more inclusive, discrimination still happens. Whether you’re being bullied, misgendered, or excluded, these experiences can take a toll on your mental health and sense of safety. If you’re facing discrimination ...

Bipolar depression, also known as bipolar disorder, is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings. These fluctuations range from periods of intense energy, elevated mood, and impulsive behavior (known as manic episodes) to periods of profound sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest (depressive episodes). During a manic episode, individuals may experience symptoms ...

Anxiety can be a major disruption on its own. The various signs and symptoms can start to take control of a person’s life and negatively impact different areas of it. Did you know that in times of high stress, involuntary anxiety tics can be another common response to anxiety? These can range from cognitive, ...

In any relationship, it is natural to want to feel valued and important. When you are in a romantic partnership, you likely expect your partner to make you a priority in their life. However, when this does not happen, it can leave you feeling hurt, frustrated, and disconnected. But why does this matter so ...

If you struggle with trauma, anxiety, or painful memories that seem to continuously loop in your mind, you may have been hearing about EMDR therapy—but what exactly is it? And who guides you through it? An EMDR therapist is a trained mental health professional who helps people heal from emotional distress due to trauma, ...

Everyone understands how their “gut” behaves. We get gut feelings about people, places, and situations all the time. While some will dismiss such sentiments, there is well-documented research that links our guts and our minds. Simply put, they interact regularly via bacteria and nerve cells, a.k.a. the gut-brain connection. A well-functioning digestive system can ...

Anxiety is something that can affect anyone, but it often manifests in different ways, depending on the person. While it may look similar across many individuals, there are unique signs that show up more commonly in men. In this article, we will break down common anxiety symptoms and explore why men may experience ...

As your teen navigates the tumultuous waters of puberty, they’re likely to experience a whirlwind of physical and emotional changes that can impact their body image. Understanding that body image isn’t just about appearance or attractiveness is crucial. It’s about your teen’s relationship with their own body and how they think and feel ...