1614 X St., Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95818
US
916-287-3430
ivy@thrivetherapyandcounseling.com
Thrive Therapy & Counseling provides high quality therapy to Highly Sensitive People and to kids, teens or adults struggling with anxiety, depression or self-esteem.
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!
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” the saying goes. But how does this apply to our mental and emotional well-being?
Sometimes when we find ourselves really overwhelmed by a particular situation or person, this can be an indicator that we are giving it too much energy. By that, I mean that we are investing too much time, thought, and maybe even physical energy into something.
Read MoreDo you have those days when you just do NOT want to do all the things? When every single part of you just wants to stay in bed or curl up with a book or escape to the beach and not do one. damn. thing. that you’re ‘supposed’ to?
Read MoreThe teenage years can be a volatile time for both parents and their children. The transition from elementary to middle school and then to high school brings excitement but also uncertainty as teens begin to focus more on the development of their social relationships and their individuality. Feelings of insecurity, emotional ups and downs, and bewilderment at how to navigate this time of change are all normal. Since parents can experience all of these feelings too, communication with your teen can become strained and contentious at times.
Read MoreHave you ever found yourself thinking: Should I be feeling this way? I just can’t stand it when I feel (fill in the blank)! I wish I never had to experience this feeling.
The human experience is such a complex thing and includes many many different feelings over the course of our lives. However, we often get the message that certain feelings are undesirable or even off-limits.
Read MoreAs highly sensitive people, we likely already have a strong appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. We tend to be lovers of animals, plants, art, beauty and to have strong convictions about protecting and preserving the environment and the other creatures around us. These hard-wired sensitivities and appreciations can serve us well during this time.
Read MoreDo you see your teen lounging around--eyes glued to their phone constantly--and worry about what kind of adult they’re going to become? Does this seem even worse with the pandemic and all the things they can’t do?? You might be frustrated with your kid’s low energy . . . with their ability to sleep 17 hours a day or with how you have to tell them 8 times to unload the dishwasher, and you wonder when they’ll finally get it together.
Read MoreTransgender lives and experiences are coming more and more into the public domain, and naturally the cultural discourse surrounding gender is becoming increasingly complex! With all of this comes the need and opportunity to be more inclusive and intentional about how we conceptualize and navigate gender, not just with our clients, but also with ourselves! Here are three ways to begin that process as well as improve gender inclusivity and positive therapeutic outcomes with trans clients.
Read MoreMy heart and body feel heavy just typing the words. I’ve been putting off writing this article, dreading the topic and the mind-body-soul despair/fatigue/overwhelm/heartbreak (do any of these words come near enough?) that accompany grief. Yet, as highly sensitive people, at this moment in time, we may be grieving about So. So. Much.
Read MoreDisclaimer: None of us would have imagined that the world as we knew it would come to a screeching halt because of a pandemic. Now, the horrific scenes of racism, the protests, and the unrest across the country are really concerning, upsetting, and overwhelming. It’s a lot. It’s a lot to take in, a lot to explore our own and our family members’ thoughts and feelings about, a lot to figure out how to respond to, a lot to cope with.
Read MoreDuring this difficult time, I know many of us may not have the means to access ongoing mental health care or may have to re-prioritize our own mental health needs for the good of our loved ones. It's tough! So, I wanted to share what I have found to be helpful for myself and a practice I try to teach in sessions with my clients.
Read MoreLife continues to feel very strange as the pandemic goes on, and there’s so much uncertainty about what to expect. It’s hard to plan for three days from now, much less 3 months into the future. This is especially tough if you’re a planner, like me. I love scheduling events, get-togethers, and travels to look forward to and daydream about. While I have made a few plans for July and beyond, I’m not sure if they’ll actually happen or what the world will look like by that time. It’s hard to truly look forward to things when we also feel a sense of heaviness and know that so much is out of our control.
Read MoreWe’re living in such uncertain times. Different information keeps coming out about how
COVID-19 works, and there’s still much about the virus that we don’t understand. We’re not
quite sure when schools will resume or when people will go back to their offices. It’s hard to plan
for the future. Will there be more stay-at-home orders? Can we plan a vacation? Will the virus
worsen when the weather cools off? Will colleges and universities be all online in the fall? And,
if so, does your teen want to begin their college career this way?
This is such a bizarre and difficult time. I debated about whether to be one more source writing about COVID-19 and “shelter in place,” but I realized how could I not? All of our lives have changed dramatically in the last 4 weeks and continue to be impacted daily. It’s hard to believe that even when I wrote last month’s article, life was mostly proceeding as “normal.” Now, for the time being, our lives have shifted in ways most of us would have never imagined, and it makes sense that this change colors everything currently.
Read MoreParenting is already such a challenge, let alone parenting a teenager when you’re all stuck at home. Both parents and teens may feel overwhelmed by the amount of time together without the typical outlets of work or school with friends and colleagues. On top of that, we may be dealing with boredom, fear, and grief as we navigate complex losses resulting from the pandemic. Regardless of our individual situations, we all need support in navigating these unprecedented circumstances.
Read More