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1614 X St., Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95818
US

916-287-3430

Thrive Therapy & Counseling provides high quality therapy to Highly Sensitive People and to kids, teens or adults struggling with anxiety, depression or self-esteem.

Blog

This blog is written by a therapist in midtown Sacramento and focuses on the concerns and struggles of highly sensitive people (HSPs) and of kids, teens 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!

Filtering by Tag: depression

Talking About Depression

Ivy Griffin

For any teen, struggling with depression can be overwhelming, and figuring out how to talk to people about it can be daunting. It’s common for anyone struggling with depression to avoid talking to their support system because they are worried about loved ones either overreacting, or being dismissive. 

Facing depression alone can intensify feelings of loneliness and isolation making the depression worsen, so identifying trusted supports are key. A trusted support might be a specific parent, teacher, friend or mentor that you feel comfortable opening up to and feel has an ability to be calm, positive and supportive. Don’t be scared to directly state what you need from that person in the start of the conversation i.e., “I just need you to listen,” or “I just need to get this off my chest,” et cetera.

As a therapist I recognize that not everyone is fortunate enough to have trusted supports in their life, or be at a place where they are ready or comfortable to open up. If that is the case, I encourage you to find a space and a method to let out and express things that you’re struggling with in a way that feels authentic for you. Some things to try might be

  • Journaling

  • Running or talking a walk

  • Music (listening or playing)

  • Painting

  • Drawing

Find an outlet that fits you and your interests in life. If you feel ready to talk to someone, but don’t feel comfortable confiding in someone currently in your life you might consider giving therapy a try - Therapists are trained to be non-judgmental objective third parties. In case your depression happens to be more severe and you are struggling with self harm or suicidal thoughts you can text or call 988 to be connected with real time professional support.

Warmly,

Megan Bell LMFT #114303

she/her

categories teen depression, teen mental health
tags teen therapist, depression, mental health

Therapy 101: Levels of Care

Ivy Griffin

While there is a lot of talk about therapy being positive and helpful,  a lot of people don’t realize that there are different levels of care. Because of this, some people end up in services that are not the right match for the current severity of their symptoms and this can lead to individuals disengaging from services prematurely if they feel like therapy can’t help them. Below I have outlined the different levels of care to help you better ascertain what your therapeutic needs may be.

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categories child therapy sacramento, communicating with teens, suicide in teens, therapy for depression
tags therapy for teens, depression, therapy group, therapy in Sacramento

Loneliness? Depression? FOMO? Idealization might be to blame!

Ivy Griffin

Have you ever thought, "If only I had a partner, then I'd be happy"? Or maybe you've imagined how much better life would be if you were out with friends. Many of us imagine that in some other version of our lives the grass is greener, but what might be the consequences of this belief? 

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categories diving deep, live and grow, therapy for depression
tags surviving and thriving, depression, holiday loneliness

Do People Like Me?

Ivy Griffin

What's interesting is that even in our worry about whether or not we belong--we belong. All people have these concerns. All people want to be accepted and understood and precisely because it matters so much, it will sometimes keep us up at night. We will cry out in the depths of our loneliness, "Do people like me?"


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categories different kind of therapy, diving deep, healthy relationships, self care
tags surviving and thriving, self esteem, depression, self-compassion therapy

How to Handle Regret

Ivy Griffin

Regret is an experience none of us escapes. It can be momentary or take up significant portions of our lives. For many of us, it contains feelings of grief, loss, and despair. Whatever the case, it is significant and can leave us feeling lost in the woods. How do we find our way? 


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categories be true to yourself, different kind of therapy, diving deep, live and grow, mindfulness
tags surviving and thriving, depression, self improvement, self talk

What if I don't like myself?

Ivy Griffin

"What if I don't like myself?" "What if I hate myself sometimes?" So many of us experience this and wonder if there is something deeply, deeply wrong with us. I've thought about it a lot recently and while I don't believe I have "the answer", I think the answer I have might be helpful for some. 

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categories different kind of therapy, diving deep, therapy for depression, therapy Sacramento
tags surviving and thriving, therapy in Sacramento, depression

3 Steps to Increasing Motivation

Ivy Griffin

In addition to anxiety and depression, low motivation is one of the most common reasons I’ve noticed people seek out therapy. There are things that they want to do and things they must do, and they’re really struggling to accomplish their goals. What’s worse is they’re often really hard themselves about their struggles and may end up paralyzed by shame and overwhelm. This can lead to feelings of failure, being stunted, stuck, or not succeeding at life. 

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categories live and grow, therapy, therapy for depression, therapy Sacramento
tags surviving and thriving, depression, help for depression, what is depression

Getting More Out of Your Down-Time

Ivy Griffin

“I feel like I don’t do enough to be as tired as I am”. “I did nothing all weekend and I’m still exhausted!” “Why do I need so much rest?” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many people are frustrated and confused by how depleted they continue to feel after down-time. They want to feel more energized and refreshed but can’t seem to get the restorative rest they need. Let’s look at why that might be!

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categories highly sensitive person, HSP therapy, mindfulness, self care Sacramento, therapy Sacramento
tags surviving and thriving, highly sensitive person, anxiety, coping with overwhelm, depression

The Consequences of Oversimplification

Ivy Griffin

We live in a very polarized culture. In the U.S., popular discourse seems to be dominated by overly simplistic descriptions of complex situations and people. Who among us has been glad we were not the ones being called out or criticized online? Perhaps we've even participated in criticizing others for being "toxic" or some other popular term for people we despise. 

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categories be true to yourself, diving deep, healthy relationships, therapy Sacramento
tags surviving and thriving, anxiety, depression, improve relationships

The Tower: Embrace Change and Surrender

Ivy Griffin

The Tower. One of the most feared images and archetypes in the Tarot. A symbol of significant, profound change, often unwanted and unexpected. The kind of change that might invite symptoms that meet criteria for an adjustment disorder. Debilitating sadness, grief, fear, dread, anger, confusion. All difficult feelings we might experience with a life altering moment such as a death, a trauma, divorce, eviction, a traumatic injury, or job loss. When we are in the throes of The Tower, it can be difficult to see which way is up and which way is down. It requires a certain kind of surrender as these walls come crashing down, for resisting this change would only lead to injury or destruction.

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categories different kind of therapy, diving deep, live and grow, therapy Sacramento
tags change, life changes, depression, anxiety, surviving and thriving

Transmagnetic Cranial Stimulation (TMS)

Ivy Griffin

Dealing with depression can seem like an excruciating marathon set in the middle of a tornado. The intensity of sorrow, hopelessness and defeat can leave you feeling unbearably powerless. It takes a huge amount of strength and bravery to reach out for help. For many, by the time they reach out to get therapy and medication, they have been in a lengthy battle and need help NOW! If a person starts psychiatric medication and things do not get better or if the side effects are intolerable, Transmagnetic Cranial Stimulation (TMS) may be a good option. Below are some answers that may guide your journey.

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categories different kind of therapy, therapy, therapy Sacramento
tags surviving and thriving, therapy in Sacramento, depression

The Spiral Staircase

Ivy Griffin

Ever catch yourself saying, “Argh! Really?! How did I end up back here again? I thought I’d gotten over that!” Just imagine me vigorously nodding my head as I type. I’ve been there so many times, more than I’d care to count. It can be the most frustrating experience. You think you’ve done your personal work, addressed the problem and are ready to face the world! Then, blam! You find yourself back in an old pattern. You may feel defeated, you may feel humbled. You may feel ashamed or hopeless.

But there’s some light in this tunnel—did you know this is NORMAL? You are not incompetent, and you’re not a lost cause. This process is a part of growth, believe it or not.

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categories therapy Sacramento
tags highly sensitive therapist, coping with emotional pain, depression, anxiety