2131 Capitol Ave. Ste 206
Sacramento, CA 95816
US
916-287-3430
hello@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 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!
The end of a friendship can leave deep emotional wounds—yet it’s a form of grief that often goes unacknowledged. Whether the loss was sudden or gradual, therapy can help you process the pain, find closure, and begin to heal.
Read MorePride Month offers celebration, but LGBTQ+ teens need support year-round. Affirming therapy provides a consistent space to explore identity, process anxiety or trauma, and feel safe being fully themselves. Learn how we support queer youth in Sacramento and online.
Read MoreWalking side-by-side with your therapist, outdoors and in motion, can ease anxiety in ways a traditional office can’t. Walk and talk therapy blends nature, movement, and conversation to support emotional regulation—especially for highly sensitive people, young adults, and anyone who feels trapped by anxiety.
Read MoreWalking side-by-side with your therapist, outdoors and in motion, can ease anxiety in ways a traditional office can’t. Walk and talk therapy blends nature, movement, and conversation to support emotional regulation—especially for highly sensitive people, young adults, and anyone who feels trapped by anxiety.
Read MoreThe couples I work with would not be surprised to hear me say that I’m an avid fan of using intentional language to lessen relational conflict. My own affinity for prose and poetics alongside my training in Narrative Therapy do well to reinforce the view that words are powerful crafters in how we make sense of ourselves, the world, and one another’s intentions. The slightest shift in word choice by the speaker can drastically alter the impact of the statement or expression for the listener.
Read MoreThere is often a disconnect between the convenience of the modern world and the distress we witness in many of our teens. They have so much knowledge, entertainment, and capability at their fingertips and yet, many of them seem to struggle with overwhelm and paralysis around life tasks and social emotional connection and growth. How do we support them while also helping them to be more capable, confident, connected human beings? Here are 3 ways to build resiliency in teens.
Read MoreI wake up sweaty and tense. I’ve had another dream about wandering through a hotel as I desperately try to get to my room. The catch is that the hotel keeps changing. The stairways move, levels don’t connect, elevators only go to certain floors and they constantly change course.
I’m up against terrible odds, and this seemingly easy task of going to my room has become a nightmare. No matter how much I try, the circumstances keep changing, and there’s so much that’s out of my control.
Read MoreOver the course of his tragically short career, singer-songwriter Jim Croce became famous for his world-weary love songs and comic ballads of bullies getting their comeuppance. In his public persona, Croce embodied a very particular masculine archetype in American music and pop culture: a working-class guy with high emotional intelligence, rough-hewn but romantic and with an almost religious dedication to poetic justice.
Read MoreIf you’re human you probably don’t like discomfort. I mean honestly who does? But what if discomfort is where the growth is? What if discomfort is the hill we have to climb on the way to experiencing confidence? Or joy? Motivation? or Connection?
Read MoreIf you’ve been in a school, at a doctor’s office, or even frequented social media lately, you may have noticed that ADHD has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. While there is a bit of controversy about whether ADHD is over- or under-diagnosed, there’s no question that it’s on a lot of peoples’ minds these days.
Read MoreThere is enough to contend with being an HSP in a healthy and functioning world, but what do you do when the world feels like it’s unraveling? When it feels like every few minutes there is a news update about a cataclysmic natural disaster, ongoing conflict in war torn countries, reversals in civil rights policy, and increasing division in the world, what pressure do we put on ourselves? Do we expect ourselves to be unimpacted, to separate emotionally, to not react or respond. Being a highly sensitive person means we are highly attuned and keyed into the world around us — so naturally, an HSP would pick up on the intense emotional experience happening in the world right now and have a correlating reaction to it.
Read MoreAs an older millennial, I find myself reminiscing a lot about the “before times”. Life before smart phones, before social media, before AI. I was one of the lucky ones to experience a teenhood and young adulthood smart phone free until I was about 25 years old. I often wonder if time moved so slowly back then because I was just a kid growing up in a small town where nothing ever happened. Or if it’s because now I'm middle aged and one year of my life is a tiny increment in proportion to the 40+ I’ve lived, versus when I was 12 and a year felt like a lifetime. Or if it’s because now the world around us is moving so fast. Thanks to smart phones and immediacy culture, almost anything we want is accessible with the tap of a button, we barely have to wait and we no longer get to lose ourselves in the moment without a notification ding pulling us right out of it.
Read MoreWe are living through extremely difficult times right now. Stress, fear, anxiety, and animosity seem to be at an all-time high. The news cycle can be overwhelming and yet, we can’t tear ourselves away. What is the best way to respond in times like this? Should we be watching more or less news? Following social media or turning off our phones completely? Donating time and money to worthy causes? What is the answer and how can we do it in a way that isn’t completely exhausting?
Read MoreAs a parent, watching your teen begin the complex journey of self-discovery and identity development can feel like an emotional roller coaster. At times you may feel at odds with their means of self-expression or find it challenging to broach the conversation about identity with your teen who feels more resistant to opening up than ever before. Finding the balance between respecting your teens' unique journey and desire for greater independence with guidance and support can feel like an impossible juggling act!
Here are some tips for supporting your teen:
1. Practicing curiosity in place of judgment.
When your teen unexpectedly walks through the door with brightly colored hair, your initial range of feelings may include shock, disapproval, or even anger. “Why would you do that? or “You look ridiculous!” may sound like familiar first reactions you’ve had?
Instead, start by taking a deep breath. Keep in mind that experimentation is a developmentally appropriate and expected component of adolescence. Rather than beginning with judgment or disapproval, try approaching your teen from a place of curiosity. Show genuine interest and inquire about what motivated the change: “Tell me about what inspired you?” or “How are YOU feeling about this new look?”. This approach allows you to gain insight into their world and strengthen your connection. Remember, they're likely already receiving plenty of judgment from peers, so creating a safe haven where they can be themselves is invaluable.
Likewise, when it comes to beliefs, respect their exploration of different ideas and worldviews. Engage in conversations where you listen more than you speak, and if you have differing beliefs, try to maintain an open, curious, and non-confrontational dialogue. This will help your teen feel that their identity is respected, even if it differs from your own.
2. Lean into conversation.
Sometimes our best intentions are less supportive than we anticipated. Remarks like “I don’t care how my child expresses themselves” or “I support whatever identity they choose” may feel dismissive and do not always leave room for supporting or understanding our teens' experience. Instead, practice leaning into conversation to listen and to learn. Conversation is a powerful tool for conveying your support and investing time in your teen's development. This not only shows that you care about their experiences but also helps them better understand themselves.
3. Be patient and flexible.
Because identity development is a fluid and evolving journey, it's normal to see your teen try many different forms of expression, some of which will stick, while others may be fleeting. As a parent, recognizing that this is a part of the process and practicing patience and flexibility conveys acceptance and permission to safely explore.
When possible, validate and normalize that exploration can be both an exciting and understandably overwhelming developmental milestone. Acknowledge the challenges your teen may face and provide reassurance that it's okay to feel uncertain at times. Finally (and equally important), remember to give yourself grace as you navigate this journey, too.
Warmly,
AMFT #129977
APCC # 10396
she/her
Have you been feeling worn down, burned out, or exhausted to your very core? Most of us have been there, we’re there right now, or we’ll be there again. As Hemingway wrote, “the world breaks everyone.” Being human means that we’ll know loss and struggle, that there’ll be times when life goes along smoothly and times when it’s all we can do to slowly inch our way forward.
Read MoreTherapy is not a straightforward process. It can be challenging and downright painful at times, but can also be profoundly healing. While I hope that all therapeutic relationships contain a free flow of information and feedback between therapist and client, this too can be complicated, and we might benefit from some simple suggestions from a therapist’s perspective. To that end, I wanted to share some thoughts and encouragement that may provide some clarity and even improve your experience of therapy.
Read MoreThink about a recent conversation you had with your teenager - especially if the topic was a difficult one to broach or one with a history of tension or conflict. Did it feel tough to “get through” to your teen? Or perhaps the attempt to check in lead to an explosive fight, after which you find yourself seething and thinking (or, let’s face it, yelling) “how dare you talk to me that way!” Everyone has a different approach, or primary style, to navigating communication and conflict. Which one is your teen’s go-to?
Read MoreWhat comes to mind when you think of someone who is described as “sensitive”? Something in the realm of overly emotional, weak, or fragile? If so, you’re not alone. In a world that often glorifies toughness, sensitivity is frequently misunderstood and sometimes even dismissed as a flaw. But here’s the truth: sensitivity is not a liability—it’s a strength that allows people to process the world deeply, form meaningful connections, and navigate life with heightened awareness.
Read More“Strengths identification” tends to be a key component when initially starting therapy. However, not every client is educated on the concept of double edged swords. A double edge sword is a metaphor used to describe something that has both positive and negative qualities. In therapy a strength that is a double edged sword is a strength that in healthy doses can bolster us and lift us up but in excess can cause conflict and discord in our life.
Read MoreLet’s be honest. Being a teenager right now is hard. You’re coming of age during a time of intense political threat, global challenges, and constant social pressure. The world feels like it’s spinning faster than ever, and somehow, you’re supposed to figure out who you are in the middle of the chaos.
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