Before we dive into this topic, let’s make a clarification or two. Anger, depending on the context, is not automatically a bad thing. However, based on our current societal structure, anger is far too often expressed destructively. Secondly, it’s not only men who show extreme anger. But, once again, our collective culture plays ...

As parents, we feel it is our job to protect our children from fear, discomfort, pain, and failure. Unfortunately, as hard as we try, we cannot protect them from everything. Anxiety can take hold before we even realize it’s happening, and by the time we notice, our child may be drowning. The key ...

Panic attacks come on quickly. They can feel like a sudden rush of fear and anxiety, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else. Panic attacks can trigger a rapid heart rate. They can make you sweat, tremble, experience chest pain or nausea, and so much more. Perhaps the scariest thing about a ...

In recent years, psychedelics have made a quiet return to the mainstream as important tools for mental health and personal growth. Substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca are now being studied and used in controlled therapeutic settings. They’re helping many people have emotional breakthroughs and shift their perspectives around difficult experiences. This is ...

When your emotions run high with anxiety, anger, sadness, or even excitement, it can feel like you’re no longer in the driver’s seat of your own mind. Emotional regulation is a skill, and like any skill, it can be strengthened with the right tools and practice. Here are five simple, evidence-based tools that ...

Therapists are just people. They can deal with as many struggles and mental health challenges as anyone else. While you might have the background and expertise to know what you’re dealing with, that doesn’t mean you can always “treat” yourself. If you were a medical doctor and had a serious disease or illness, you ...

Navigating the college application period can leave your teen feeling overwhelmed. Look for signs like irritability, mood swings, or withdrawal from family activities. These changes often signal that they’re feeling the pressure. You might notice your teen glued to their desk, with late-night study sessions becoming the norm. Increased fatigue or a dip ...

Anxiety is somewhat of a silent epidemic that affects millions of people across the world. It’s a normal part of life in minimal doses, giving us the ability to respond when there’s perceived danger. It’s when anxiety ramps up and manifests as persistent worry, fear, and physical disruptions that it becomes problematic. Medication is ...

Does anxiety make it hard to sleep, leaving you exhausted during the day? When anxiety keeps you tossing and turning, you might feel like you’re stuck in a draining cycle. Your symptoms cause your mind to race when you lie down in bed. As a result, you struggle to get any shut-eye. But ...

When we think about trauma recovery, most people immediately think of talk therapy or, more recently, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). But another important, often misunderstood therapeutic tool is hypnosis. While hypnosis may conjure up images of stage tricks or mind control, hypnotherapy is a well-researched method used by trained professionals to help ...

While many veterans are aware that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common amongst people who have served in the military, people don’t always recognize the symptoms right away. Maybe you’ve been suffering from frustrating symptoms after your service. But labeling your feelings as “depression” or “anxiety” doesn’t seem to fit. Perhaps another friend ...

More often than not, the initial attraction between two people is physical in nature. This can be exciting — it can also feel both permanent and addictive. However, people change, as do relationship dynamics. While these changes can be challenging, they are not automatically negative. That said, when sexual attraction seems to wane, it ...

As a man, you might feel like there’s an invisible rulebook telling you to handle everything on your own. Society has long painted pictures of stoic heroes refusing help, but the reality is different. We’ve all seen the classic movie scene: Dad lost on a road trip, refusing to ask for directions. It’s ...

No one likes feeling rejected. As human beings, we all want to belong and be accepted by those around us. That’s especially true when it comes to romantic relationships. It’s not easy to put yourself out there and enter the dating world when you’re worried you might get turned down or ghosted. But is ...

In a profit-driven society, the concept of self-worth is too often intertwined with one’s income. However, on a much deeper level, self-worth is how we view ourselves. It’s the big-picture option we have about ourselves. Self-worth is, in a way, the lens through which we perceive our place in the world. Therefore, you ...

Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, IFS is based on the idea that our inner world functions like a family system. Just like members of a family can have different needs, temperaments, and roles, the parts within us do too. You might have a part that wants to please others, another that’s ...

When a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, it can be difficult to determine what to say versus what not to say. All you want to do is help them or take away their pain. Unfortunately, not all help is helpful. Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions and recovery from them ...

Our families can often be our biggest source of love and support. But for many people, family relationships also carry pain, dysfunction, and unresolved trauma. Unhealed family trauma can shape how we see ourselves and relate to others. Moving forward from this trauma is crucial for breaking self-sabotaging cycles and creating healthier lives. Here’s ...

Teen depression is on the rise. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, as of 2021, about 14.7% of kids aged 12-17 had a major depressive episode in the last year. Teenagers have a lot on their plates. They’re trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be. Their ...

Life is like a rollercoaster, full of unpredictable ups and downs that can affect your mental health and overall wellness. At its core is your nervous system, a powerhouse responsible for how you respond to stress. It triggers the fight-or-flight response when danger looms, yet it can also induce a calming parasympathetic state ...

The rise of social media reads like a work of fiction. In 2012, it was something that only 5 percent of adults participated in. Fast forward to today, and that number is at least 73 percent. For certain age groups (such as adults), it’s over 90 percent. It’s not just raw numbers. Take ...

ADHD is often viewed as a children’s disorder. While it’s true that most cases are diagnosed in children, that doesn’t mean it magically “goes away” with age. It also doesn’t mean every child dealing with ADHD gets a proper diagnosis. There are plenty of adults who deal with ADHD symptoms who have never been ...

Healthy communication is essential in all of life’s relationships. That includes the relationship you have with your child. When they’re little, it’s easy to foster healthy lines of communication as you guide them, they ask questions, and you share what you know about the world. As your child gets older, though, those lines of ...

When it comes to food, many people, particularly children, are known to be “picky eaters.” This can be frustrating for parents, but it is often a phase that passes. However, when eating behaviors become more extreme or persistent, they may signal something more serious, like an eating disorder. Understanding the difference between picky ...

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is logically associated with school-age children. That is when most people get such a diagnosis. However, those children with ADHD often grow into adults with ADHD. This neuro-developmental condition impacts millions of adults across the world, but fewer than 20 percent of them are getting the treatment they need ...

Even though anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the world, getting diagnosed with it can be an overwhelming experience. You might start to believe certain stereotypes, wonder what’s wrong with you, or think about theut the future. Unfortunately, those thoughts are likely to make your anxiety worse. While receiving an anxiety diagnosis ...

AI seems to be everywhere you look nowadays. It has infiltrated nearly every industry, and while it has incredible benefits, it can also be a bit unnerving. According to Goldman Sachs, AI could end up replacing the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs. While some argue that it’s creating new opportunities for people, there ...

Divorce is rarely easy. Even in the most amicable situations, the end of a marriage can be emotionally and psychologically taxing, not just for the couple but for the entire family. Children may be experiencing confusion, sadness, or fear around “what’s next?” Adults may be feeling guilty or resentful towards this loss. Amongst the ...

Depression is a complex mental health condition. It’s rarely due to one specific cause, and it can come on gradually. What’s certain is that its toll on one’s quality of life is often immensely negative. Everyone’s experience with depression is unique, and this can make it difficult to know how to move forward. Understanding ...

Grief is one of the hardest emotions to navigate, and it can affect people in different ways. Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, or even a major life change, the process can be overwhelming. Art therapy allows individuals to explore their emotions through creativity. This approach ...

In the last blog, we explored what neurofeedback therapy is—an emerging, non-invasive approach that helps teach the brain to function more efficiently. By using sensors to read brain waves, it gives real-time feedback, and allows the brain to train itself. With a better idea of what neurofeedback is and how it works, the next ...

Therapy comes in many forms, and one of the more creative methods is through arts therapies. Two common types are traditional therapy and expressive arts therapy. While both offer unique benefits, they approach healing in different ways. Understanding these differences can help a person decide which therapy might work best for them. Traditional Therapy: ...

If we were to trust pop culture tropes, we’d believe that parents always make an immediate connection with their newborn children. However, it’s not always so simple. Plenty of parents need a little time and patience to create the profound bond they seek. There’s nothing “wrong” about this reality, but it can be ...

Therapy sessions used to mean a trip to a physical office. Thanks to the digital age, online therapy has emerged as a convenient and accessible alternative to traditional in-person sessions. While individual therapy requires one person to carve out time, couples therapy doubles the scheduling challenge. Online couples therapy offers much-needed flexibility for busy ...

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common modalities for people who experience a wide range of mental health conditions. It is a proven, highly effective treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. However, when your mind works differently, the effects of CBT can be different, too. Does that mean it isn’t ...

If there are three words we hear and say all the time these days, they are “I’m too busy.” The modern age was supposed to free up time for everyone, but most people are overwhelmed all the time. This can be a particularly damaging trend for couples. In the age of smartphones, partners ...

The Gottman Method is not just another approach to couples therapy; it’s grounded in over four decades of meticulous research. Developed by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, this method emerged from fascinating studies conducted in “The Love Lab” at the University of Washington. There, they studied thousands of couples, honing ...

Therapists are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to help with a variety of mental health conditions and everyday mental and emotional struggles. They see countless clients and patients from all walks of life and must be able to create treatment plans tailored to each individual’s unique situation. However, at the end of the ...

Self-esteem can affect our confidence, mental health, and overall sense of purpose. It’s essentially how we feel about ourselves, and this matters more than you may think or believe. Did you know that self-esteem can also affect our relationships with others? Your self-esteem can play a large role in how you act, whether with your ...

Existential anxiety is a fear or feeling of unease that occurs from contemplating life, existence, and death. It often involves fundamental questions surrounding the meaning of life, a person’s purpose, the nature of reality, and freedom. This type of anxiety can lead to feelings of dread, despair, and a sense of purposelessness. Recognizing the ...

Codependency is a complex behavioral condition that can manifest in various ways. At its core, a codependent relationship involves two individuals who have lost their sense of identity outside of one another. Codependence can be found in various relationships, but for the purposes of this post, we will focus on romantic relationships. Codependency is ...

You have probably seen and heard the word “adulting” in memes for years. Maybe you have even used it in a joking manner, yourself, suggesting that you do not want to “adult” on a certain day when it would have been easier to stay in bed. While we have turned the phrase into something ...

Today’s world is fast-paced and constantly moving. Jobs used to be something to which you would commute, spend between 8am-5pm there and go home to your family. But thanks to the advances in technology, you can now take work with you, wherever you choose to go. Instead of working from your company’s headquarters, ...

Codependency is a complex emotional and behavioral condition. It’s where you might find yourself relying heavily on another person for emotional support and self-worth. Often, this means one person neglects their own needs to please the other, especially when a partner struggles with addiction. While leaning on a partner is normal, codependency can ...

Living with a chronic illness can feel like a constant uphill battle, and it’s not uncommon to experience depression along the way. Dealing with persistent health issues often leads to emotional turmoil, leaving you feeling isolated or overwhelmed. Remember, it’s okay to seek help and prioritize your mental well-being as you navigate this ...

Generational trauma refers to the emotional, psychological, and behavioral impact of traumatic experiences that are passed down through generations. This type of trauma can affect families, communities, and even entire cultural groups. It can be challenging to identify, as it often manifests in subtle ways that become accepted as “normal,” but understanding how ...

Grief is one emotion that is a universal experience. It will touch everyone at some point during their lifetime. Generally, this is an emotional response to the death of a loved one or a significant loss. This can also extend beyond those instances. Grief can be complex, presenting as something called anticipatory grief. This ...

Wealth within a family can be both a blessing and a challenge. On one hand, it unlocks a world of opportunities, offering education, travel, and experiences that are otherwise out of reach. On the flip side, it can sow seeds of discord if not managed wisely. Children might feel entitled or lack drive, ...

Most of the time, grief is associated with the loss of a loved one who has passed away. But did you know that the grieving process can occur before a loss happens? This is what’s known as anticipatory grief. Anticipatory grief is a complex and emotional process that takes place when we expect that ...

When we think of trauma responses, most people are familiar with the “fight or flight” response. These are the survival mechanisms our nervous systems activate when we perceive a threat. However, there are two lesser-known (and often misunderstood) responses that are just as important: freeze and fawn. These reactions can profoundly influence how ...