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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: therapy in Sacramento

Starting Therapy as a Teen: What to Expect in Those First Few Sessions

Ivy Griffin

If your teen is in therapy for the first time, you might wonder what’s going on during those first few sessions, and your teen might be wondering what to expect when talking to a therapist for the first time. It makes sense to be curious or even nervous for this new experience. Building rapport is an important part of therapy, and especially important when working with teens. Making a true connection with someone is a vital first step towards effective therapy. Everyone is different, but it usually takes a few sessions to start to build a sense of trust and comfort with a new therapist. This is especially true for teens, who might be apprehensive about attending therapy to begin with. Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re a teen or a parent of a teen who has questions about what those first few sessions might look like: 

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categories child therapy Sacramento, communicating with teens, parenting sacramento, teen anxiety, teen depression
tags teen therapist, child therapist, therapy for teens, therapy in Sacramento

Three Ways to Deal With Emotional Overwhelm

Ivy Griffin

I just want things to roll off my back. I don’t want to feel so bothered by things anymore! How can I just let things go? Many of us know the feeling of rising emotion, like a tidal wave about to engulf us – your heart races, perhaps your face gets hot, and it takes all your strength not to dissolve in tears or explode in anger. When this happens, we feel powerless, alone or embarrassed, and we wish these feelings would just go away! But no matter how hard we try, no matter how often we tell ourselves “It’s no big deal”, these feelings keep returning again and again. How do we make lasting change?

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categories coaching for hsps, highly sensitive person, HSP therapy, self care Sacramento
tags surviving and thriving, HSP coping skills, coping with overwhelm, stress management, anxiety, therapy in Sacramento

How Long Before I'm Better? Thoughts on the Therapy Timeline

Ivy Griffin

“How long does therapy take to start working?” “I've been in therapy over a year, why do I still have the same issues?” “Will I need therapy the rest of my life?” These are important questions that deserve thoughtful consideration. Read on for insights from a therapist who has provided both short and long-term therapy.  

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categories therapy for depression, therapy midtown Sacrament, therapy Sacramento, tips to find a therapist
tags surviving and thriving, tips for finding a therapist, therapy in Sacramento

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

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

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

Divorce and Therapy

Ivy Griffin

In this blog post, I hope to give some insight into how the topic of divorce can be worked through in a therapeutic setting. Clients often seek therapy during a variety of stages in the process. Some folks are in the middle of a messy and complicated divorce and looking for a safe space to unpack their frustrations with the legal process. Others are thinking about initiating a separation, and worry about how to approach a soft landing feels daunting and horrifying, especially if there are kids, pets or major assets to sort through. Some arrive when all the paperwork has been finalized and the dust is now unsettlingly settled, and the question of starting anew feels overwhelming.

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categories healthy relationships, improve communication, relationships, therapy Sacramento
tags surviving and thriving, divorce, healthy relationships, therapy in Sacramento

A Tool For Developing Self-Compassion

Ivy Griffin

For most of us, self-compassion does not come easily. We more commonly speak to ourselves with self-criticism, often learned early in life from our caregivers, school, and our hyper-individualistic and competitive society. We believe that if we criticize ourselves, we will protect ourselves from being criticized and judged by others. We aim to be perfect so that we can feel safe. In reality, self-criticism only exacerbates suffering.

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categories diving deep, self care, therapy
tags surviving and thriving, self-compassion, therapy in Sacramento, self-care

Body and Soul

Ivy Griffin

It’s important to remember that mainstream approaches of talk therapy, while evidence-based and effective for many people, have their limits. There are other approaches that can augment our treatment, involving more than simply discussing issues with our therapist a couple of times a month. This is where the body comes in.

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categories different kind of therapy, mindfulness, therapy
tags surviving and thriving, therapy in Sacramento, mind body connection, mindfulness

Identifying Negative Core Beliefs

Ivy Griffin

Something I hear a lot from clients who have sought therapy, is that it took them a long time to decide to go for it. This can be for many reasons (bad past experiences in therapy, stigma around mental health, anxiety around diving into painful emotions etc.) but it is often born out of uncertainty that the issues they wish to address are actually changeable. The sense of a problem being unbeatable is often due to people logically understanding the issue they are having, but they still cannot seem to stop it. This situation leads people to ask: “What would a therapist really be able to help me with? I already know what my problem is and how it came about.”

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categories be true to yourself, mindfulness, therapy for depression
tags surviving and thriving, change, therapy in Sacramento, self esteem, self talk

Am I Doomed to Repeat the Past?

Ivy Griffin

As we move along in therapy and begin exploring some of the possible contributors to challenges we face, it can feel like we see patterns everywhere! We may think, “I’ve been handling things the same way forever!” “Will I ever be able to change?” “I’m turning out just like my parents!” No worries! This is a super common feeling to have and it does NOT mean you’re doomed to repeat the past.

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categories diving deep, live and grow, therapy
tags surviving and thriving, therapy in Sacramento, change, coping skills

Making Therapy Work For You

Ivy Griffin

A few years ago someone close to me, knowing I was a therapist, approached me hesitantly. They shared that they had been seeing a therapist for a while and noted that they felt frustrated and confused. They felt like they had been trying to make it work, but noted that it felt like therapy wasn’t working and wondered if there was something wrong with them or if they had a bad therapist. 

After some discussion it became clear that part of the problem was that the therapist's theoretical orientation and the goals and personality of the person close to me didn’t align well, which is normal and can occur. 

So what do you do when a therapist isn’t a good fit? 

The first step is self reflection; 

  • How many times have you met the therapist? Sometimes we can tell early on that something isn’t right for us and that’s okay, however sometimes we get so anxious that we self sabotage and find excuses as to why we should just give up on therapy. Trust your instincts,but also give your therapist a fair chance, therapists aren’t miracle workers and sometimes we need more than one session to really connect with a client.

  • Have you made efforts to implement skills and tools recommended and have you been honest with your therapist when they asked? If the answer is no, then it’s important to look at what stopped you from using the tools they provided (did the tools make you uncomfortable, did it feel like too much work, was it impractical for your life, et cetera) and have an honest conversation with your therapist. They may be able to tweak tools to better suit your needs, or find resources that are a better fit. Therapists aren’t mind readers if you don’t communicate with us we have to operate on incomplete information which can lead to lackluster results.

  • Have you tried discussing the issue with the therapist? If you have repeatedly discussed the issue with your therapist, and have made active efforts to participate and engage and you still feel like nothing is changing then it is well within your rights to look for a therapist who will be a better fit and meet your needs. However if you have never had the courage to broach the subject with your therapist then I highly recommend that you make an effort to talk with them about the issue. They may have been unaware of the issue, and able to adjust their approach to better suit your needs.

The next step is to sit down with the therapist and have an open and honest conversation about your concerns.

 As long as you communicate and express yourself respectfully, a good therapist will understand if you feel that they aren’t the right fit, and they may even be able to help connect you with a therapist who is more in line with your needs, or help you better identify what kind of support you are looking for. 

And remember just because a therapist wasn’t the right fit for you, doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t the right fit for someone else. 

Warmly,

Megan Bell, LMFT # 114303

Thrive Therapy & Counseling

1614 X St., Suite A

Sacramento, CA, 95818

916-287-3430

thrivetherapyandcounseling.com


categories tips to find a therapist, be true to yourself
tags surviving and thriving, therapy in Sacramento, communication skills, self-advocacy

Diving Deep: Ready to create the life you want?

Ivy Griffin

Hi there. How are you? Ohhh, you sound a little tired, a bit worn down, kinda draggy and not quite your best self. Ever tell yourself that if you could just get yourself to do X, you’re pretty sure your life would shift in the direction you want? Ever feel like you need some space and support to actually face big changes or big feelings so that you can move through them? Well, my friend, I’m writing this letter for you. We’ve all been there--life can become so hectic with all the “must do’s” that we never quite get around to the “it would make me feel so much better if I . . . do’s”.

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categories therapy
tags therapy in Sacramento, stress relief, self improvement, highly sensitive therapist