If you have a teen in your household, maybe you’ve noticed one or more of the following: your child seems glued to their phone, is withdrawing from family members and shared spaces, is holed up in their room and when they’re not, they might as well be. Maybe you notice that their reference points have increasingly become online in nature. Or perhaps their style of communication has changed dramatically, rarely verbal in nature, their faces down and their fingers tapping away or scrolling. And it could be that you’ve noticed them descend into surprising amounts of discomfort or distress in situations where they cannot easily access their phone.
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It’s often assumed that figuring out your sexuality or gender identity is something that happens in your teens, maybe your early 20’s. Those are the prime years for exploration, for dating, for discovering yourself as an autonomous being and emerging into the adult world. At the very least, aren’t you supposed to “just know”, even if you don’t tell anyone else? As a therapist who specializes in LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy, I can assure that this is not always the case. Better yet, I can assure you that there’s no such thing as “too late” when it comes to living authentically.
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Curious about brainspotting in Sacramento? Here's what it actually is, what a session feels like, and who tends to benefit most from this trauma-informed approach.
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Fall triggers anxiety for more people than realize it. Here's what's actually happening and what helps when seasonal transitions feel heavier than they should.
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Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) move through the world with a nervous system that picks up every little detail. Sensitivity isn’t a problem and deserves to be honored. It’s a trait that allows people to process the world in a deeper way, but it can also mean getting overwhelmed quickly. Mindfulness offers a way to stay connected to yourself without shutting down your sensitivity.
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Talking to your teen about self-harm is never easy and if it feels hard, that's because it is. It's okay not to have the perfect words ready, or to feel unsure about the right moment to bring it up. Most parents feel this way, and that hesitation doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong — it just means you care about getting it right. There's no single "correct" way to start this conversation, but showing up with love and a willingness to listen already matters more than you might think.
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Depression and burnout share many symptoms but need different responses. Here's how to tell them apart and what therapy does for each.
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Not sure if you need grief counseling in Sacramento? Here's how to tell when grief needs professional support and what grief therapy actually looks like.
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Let’s be honest — avoiding something that makes you anxious can feel really good … for a little while. Canceling plans, putting off an uncomfortable conversation, or deciding you’ll “deal with it tomorrow” often brings immediate relief. Your heart rate slows, your mind moves on to the next thing, and for a moment it feels like the problem has been handled.
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Highly sensitive people tend to process sensory and emotional information more deeply than others, which means their nervous systems are working harder across various environments. One day filled with bright lights, loud background noises, and tough interpersonal challenges can all contribute to a lot of exhaustion for a highly sensitive person in ways it might not for someone else.
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Two or three therapists on your shortlist, all good on paper, and you can't choose? Why more research won't break the tie, and what will.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.
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