I’ve been sick on and off for the past month. It began with a single symptom, as most sicknesses do, and has since progressed into a whirlwind of Doctors’ visits, testing endeavors with conflicting results, an unrelated COVID exposure and period of isolation, a resurgence of the original ailment, and a whole lot of uncertainty. Being ill is unpleasant for anyone, but as a highly sensitive person it can be hard not to feel downright pathetic with the intensity of just how bad things feel - not just physically, but emotionally. If you’re also an HSP and feel especially “fragile” during times of illness, you’re not alone!
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Our emotions are kind of like our friends and relatives, not all of them are welcome at our house! We may feel close and welcoming toward our Aunt Joy, but cold and distant toward Uncle Anger – “I barely know him, and…he's KINDA weird!” Unlike our friends and relatives, we don't get to choose if our emotions are part of our lives – they're here to stay, whether we like it or not. When emotions are unwelcome or unfamiliar, we may use defense mechanisms to deal with them. One such defense mechanism is denial. When we use denial to keep certain emotions at a distance, it can have unintended consequences – we may experience repeated feelings of being “stuck”, numb, confused, or even anxious about certain things and we just don't know why. By learning how to recognize and work with denial, we can become more comfortable with distant emotions and increase our awareness, agency, and self-assuredness.
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Uncover the four types of anxiety and how each uniquely impacts daily life. At Thrive Therapy & Counseling in Sacramento, our therapists provide compassionate support and practical tools for managing anxiety with confidence.
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Discover how your inner critic may echo parental voices and learn strategies to overcome this challenge. Thrive Therapy & Counseling is here to help.
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Perfectionism is often rooted in trauma. Explore how therapy can uncover these patterns and guide you toward self-compassion, healing, and resilience.
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Grief is not a straight path. Setbacks are natural, but understanding them can ease your journey. Discover strategies to navigate these challenges and find peace.
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Discover how childhood emotional neglect affects adults and explore therapeutic options with Thrive Therapy & Counseling in Sacramento. Learn practical strategies to heal and grow.
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Discover how LGBTQ+ individuals in Sacramento can find affirming mental health support. Thrive Therapy & Counseling offers tailored therapy services to empower the queer community.
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Discover how childhood emotional neglect affects adults and explore therapeutic options with Thrive Therapy & Counseling in Sacramento. Learn practical strategies to heal and grow.
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As summer fades and autumn approaches, many Highly Sensitive People feel heightened stress. Discover practical tips to reset and recharge this September with Thrive Therapy & Counseling's guidance.
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The idea of forgiveness brings up strong feelings for many people, myself included. I struggle to write about it and to talk about it, which makes me think it’s important to try – even if I’m somewhat clumsy. We often shy away from topics that leave us unsettled or frustrated for their heaviness and lack of clarity. But in some ways, I think this can make things worse – robbing us of the opportunity to stretch our internal capacities to bear the messiness of our existence. Perhaps devoting a little bit of time here and there to heavier topics will build our mental and emotional muscles, so to speak.
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Have you ever gone on a handful of dates with someone, hopeful that the budding relationship would blossom, only to find that weeks later, none of your messages or calls to them are answered? Or has a friend at school suddenly cut off all communication with no explanation, and is now avoiding you in the community? Maybe you have felt such intense disconnection from someone that you can no longer maintain a relationship—yet the thought of reaching out to explain this to them fills you with so much dread that you’re considering just deleting their contact info and sweeping it all under the rug?
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A variety of things might come to your mind when you think about rest. Many of us likely have different definitions of what rest looks or feels like, and we may go about it differently based on our own understandings, backgrounds, and lifestyles.
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The term “Mental Health Day” has grown in popularity over the past few years. This typically means taking sick time off work to treat our mental health with the same care and attention as our physical health. Whether the intention is to take care of a family member (or just spend some extra quality time), relax and sleep in to relieve stress, or to regroup after a long week, taking care of our mental health is now more important than ever.
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If you live with ADHD, you’ve likely heard the word “lazy” more times than you can count. Maybe it was when you forgot an assignment, struggled to keep up with chores, or procrastinated until the last minute. The truth is, ADHD and executive dysfunction have nothing to do with laziness. They are neurological differences that make planning, starting, and following through on tasks harder—not impossible, but definitely more complicated.
Understanding how ADHD affects executive functioning can help you reframe the narrative. Instead of blaming yourself for being “lazy,” you can begin to see your challenges in context and explore strategies that work with your brain, not against it.
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For people who identify as highly sensitive or empathic, intense embarrassment and shame might be particularly difficult experiences. Making a mistake can be followed by intense physical sensations and emotions: your face gets hot, your heart rate spikes, and sometimes you may even want to disappear. While this is normal and might even feel manageable for some, people who are highly sensitive may struggle to recover from these feelings.
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For many LGBTQ+ adults, therapy is not just about managing anxiety, depression, or stress—it’s about finding a place where you feel safe, affirmed, and fully seen. Too often, LGBTQ+ clients have experienced misunderstanding, judgment, or even harm in healthcare settings. That’s why choosing a therapist who provides affirmative, inclusive care is so important. Therapy should be a space where your whole identity is honored and supported.
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For many people, overwhelm feels like a constant state of being. It’s more than just a busy week or a stressful deadline—it’s the sense that your nervous system is always running on high, leaving you exhausted, irritable, and stuck. If you’ve tried to “think your way out of it” without success, you’re not alone. Overwhelm often lives in the body as much as the mind, which is why traditional coping tools sometimes fall short. This is where brainspotting can help.
Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that accesses the mind-body connection directly. By working with the brain and nervous system, it helps release stored stress and trauma that fuel chronic overwhelm.
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Have you ever wondered whether a part of your personality is “just who you are” or if it’s a response to something you’ve been through? Many people struggle with this question, especially when habits like perfectionism, emotional withdrawal, or people-pleasing feel deeply ingrained. Distinguishing between personality traits and trauma responses can be tricky, but it’s an important step toward healing.
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For LGBTQ+ individuals, finding the right therapist can make all the difference. While any therapist may be trained to address anxiety, trauma, or depression, not all understand the unique challenges LGBTQ+ clients face. Affirmative therapy goes beyond acceptance—it actively validates and supports LGBTQ+ identities while addressing the impact of discrimination, marginalization, and internalized stigma.
Affirmative therapy is not a niche preference; it’s a vital approach that helps LGBTQ+ people feel safe, seen, and empowered in therapy.
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