How to Know If What You Experienced Was Traumatic (Even If You're Not Sure)
Ivy Griffin
Not every traumatic experience looks obvious. Here's how to know if what you went through might be worth exploring in therapy.
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This blog is written by therapists in midtown Sacramento and focuses on the concerns and struggles of highly sensitive people (HSPs), LGBTQIA+ folks, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety or just trying to figure out what they want for themselves. There's help and hope through counseling and therapy!
Trauma Therapy in Sacramento: What to Expect and How to Know You're Ready
Ivy Griffin
Looking for trauma therapy in Sacramento? Here's what the process looks like, how to know if you're ready, and what makes it different.
Read MoreThe Impact of Noise Color
Ivy Griffin
We often get so caught up in our day that we forget or lose sight of just how much our environment can impact us. One piece of our environment is the sensory input of sound. While most of us are familiar with using music to self regulate, most people are unaware of the research into the different noise colors and the potential benefits of using specific noise colors to support our mental and emotional well being.
Read MoreWhen a first session feels off: how to tell a red flag from the normal discomfort of starting therapy.
Ivy Griffin
Did your first therapy session leave you feeling unsure? Learn how to tell the difference between normal first-session discomfort and genuine therapist red flags, especially if you're a highly sensitive person.
Read MoreNurturing Healthy Self Esteem in Teens
Ileana Arganda-Stevens
You’ve been thinking about the media your teen is exposed to every day and you worry about their self-esteem. No matter how much you try to teach them healthy body image and self-acceptance, critical and unhealthy messages are everywhere. You can’t monitor them every moment of the day, so how do you give them enough of what they need to help them navigate all the toxic messaging in the world? Read on to learn about two pillars of healthy self-esteem along with examples of how you can incorporate them into your teen’s life.
Read MoreHow to Know If You Need Therapy Right Now
TherapyFlow SEO
Not sure if what you are going through is bad enough for therapy? Here are the real signs it is time to reach out, and why waiting usually makes it harder.
Read MoreHow to Find an Anxiety Therapist in Sacramento
TherapyFlow SEO
Looking for an anxiety therapist in Sacramento? Here is what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to find a therapist who is actually the right fit.
Read MoreThe myth that your first session tells you whether a therapist is the right fit
Ivy Griffin
Think your first therapy session means a therapist isn't the right fit? Here's why session one can be misleading, especially for highly sensitive people.
Read MoreEmotional Burnout: The Consequences of Parental Defensiveness
Ivy Griffin
“They’re asking too much!” “I give so much, I have nothing left!” “I just want someone to take care of me.” Sound familiar? Many of us who find ourselves in caregiver roles are passionate about supporting others, but find that we’re emotionally burned out, overextended, and sometimes resentful of others. Part of us may believe that these feelings are just part of being a generous, caring person. But there is also a quiet little persistent voice that whispers, “Is this healthy? There’s got to be a better way.” There is, and it begins with understanding where the cycle of emotional burnout starts.
Read MoreLetting Go of the Compulsory "I'm Sorry"
Ivy Griffin
“Calm down.”
“You’re too sensitive!”
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
These sentiments are likely all too familiar to the highly sensitive person, and in particular the highly sensitive child. Growing up, I recall countless teary eyed instances of fighting - with little success - to try to restrain the expression of my emotions, only to be met with judgment and criticism from adults and fellow children alike. Often HSPs grow up to absorb these messages and take them on as our own, which can lead to the belief that we, and our feelings are, inherently “too much”. This can lead to self-blame and guilt, and the adoption of an almost default state of apologetic being. Even if logically we now know that sensitivity is not shameful and is even in many ways a strength, letting go of these internalized ideas can be difficult. Accepting one’s sensitivity can be a slow process, but here are a few ways to start.
Read More‘Anxiety therapy’ isn’t one thing. Here’s what HSP-trained therapy does differently.
Ivy Griffin
Why generic ‘anxiety therapy’ often doesn’t land for highly sensitive people — the mechanism is different, and so is the work. Plus four real questions you can ask on your next consult call.
Read MoreWhat If I Mess Up My Teen?
Ivy Griffin
When I work with clients who are parents, it’s common to hear, “What if I mess up my kid?!” Their fear and concern is palpable. Often, parents say this when they’re coming to terms with their own painful relationship dynamics with their parents and genuinely want something better for their children. The teen years in particular can cause parents to feel a painful distance from their kid(s), leaving them wondering if they’ve done something wrong, or if they’ll ever be close again. What can parents do to keep perspective, practice self-care, and take meaningful steps to protect connection, even when their teens want space from them?
Read More3 Tips for Dealing with Racing Thoughts
Ileana Arganda-Stevens
Being human is exhausting sometimes. We like to think it’s possible to completely organize our schedules, remember what we need from the store, stay on top of current events in the news, feed our pets, feed ourselves, do the laundry, take our vitamins, and find time for meaningful connection with our loved ones. Everything feels so important, no wonder our thoughts race from the time we wake up until we lay down to go to sleep..if we manage to get any sleep. So how do we stop our busy minds or at least slow them down?
Read MoreThe Unconventional Guide to Better Boundaries
Joe Boyle
One of the common myths about boundaries that I've confronted in my work with clients is that boundaries pertain to other people. Often, I have encountered people misinterpreting boundaries to essentially mean rules for other people's behavior. "You asked an uncomfortable question, so I'm going to shut down the conversation and cite a boundary as the reason," or "I blocked my former friend on text and social media because they kept making insensitive remarks." Maybe you’ve heard people say similar things in your own life. And to be clear, shutting down a conversation, or blocking or ghosting someone, is within your rights as a human being. But let's be clear: this isn't boundary setting. It’s withdrawal.
Read MoreWhen You’re Tired of Being “The Strong One”
Ivy Griffin
Being the dependable one can look admirable from the outside while feeling lonely and exhausting on the inside. This post explores why that role forms, how it affects mental health, and what healing support can look like.
Read MoreLGBTQ+ Identity Stress in Everyday Life
Ivy Griffin
Identity stress can show up in subtle, exhausting ways, from self-monitoring to relationship strain. This post explores what it can look like day to day and how affirming therapy can help.
Read MoreGrief That Resurfaces Without Warning
Ivy Griffin
Grief does not always move in a straight line. Sometimes it returns suddenly, stirred by a date, a smell, a change, or no clear reason at all. This article explains why that happens and how to respond with more steadiness and self-compassion.
Read MoreExpressive Arts Therapy for Stress and Emotional Release
Ivy Griffin
Stress does not always loosen through words alone. This post explains how expressive arts therapy can support emotional release, nervous system regulation, and self-understanding in a gentle, creative way.
Read MoreADHD, Overwhelm, and Executive Dysfunction
Ivy Griffin
ADHD can affect far more than focus. This article explains how overwhelm and executive dysfunction show up in everyday life, why shame often makes things worse, and what kinds of support can help.
Read MoreEmotional Regulation Challenges in Highly Sensitive Adults
Ivy Griffin
Feeling easily overwhelmed does not mean you are broken. This article explains why emotional regulation can feel harder for highly sensitive adults and offers practical, compassionate ways to cope.
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