Expert mental health care with compassion
Finding the right therapist can feel like an overwhelming task, especially if you are already feeling distressed. Yet it’s also the crucial first step toward emotional wellness. This post is designed simplify and demystify the process of choosing a therapist. You’re doing yourself an important service in being thoughtful and choosy when picking a mental health provider. This is someone you want to feel safe opening up with, even when[…]
Written by Drs. Carrie King & Suzanne Smith Women Who Struggle With Body Image Learn These Messages Early in Life My mother was always on a diet and complaining about how big she got after having us kids. My grandmother always pushed me to, “Eat! Eat!” and then spent dinner talking about my “fat” cousin Tali. My father wouldn’t buy me a bikini at age 5, and I knew why.[…]
Talking with the people you care about most seems like something that should come easily. And sometimes it does. Sometimes the conversations feel relaxed, warm, and productive. But at other times talking about something significant with the people we love feels like a daunting task. Perhaps you end up spiraling around the same conversation that goes nowhere and leaves everyone feeling frustrated. This is when learning a few effective communication[…]
Have you been feeling uneasy, drifting, lost? Maybe your life doesn’t seem to have a clear purpose or direction right now. We often feel unbalanced or off kilter during times of major transition such as adjusting to parenthood, job changes, a new home, health issues, or loss. But sometimes our lives may seem relatively steady on the surface yet we still find ourselves gradually feeling out of sorts. The concept[…]
The pressures on moms these days are greater than ever. Moms are expected to give all of themselves to their families all of the time. There are powerful messages in our culture telling moms just what they should do to be successful. They are expected to breastfeed for a year; choose organic foods and fabrics; plan, prepare, and clean up three healthy meals and three nutritious snacks per day; keep[…]
Are you always worrying about how to meet others’ needs? Do you constantly try to anticipate everyone’s moods and preferences so you can manage them? Does all this mental and emotional work come at the expense of your own needs? You’re not alone. In fact, many people struggle to honor their own feelings, opinions, and preferences. They are constantly ignoring or dismissing their own inner voice in order to try[…]
Loneliness hurts. It can lead to both emotional and physical suffering. Many people today are experiencing loneliness at higher levels than ever before. Research has consistently shown that contentment and physical well-being are strongly linked to having quality social support. This includes both a social circle of people we engage with regularly as well as a few intimate connections. When we are lacking either or both types of social support,[…]
Many people wonder what psychotherapy is like and whether it would be helpful to them. It can be difficult to judge when no one talks much about what to expect in therapy. This blog post is intended to describe many common aspects of a therapy course. And I will be using the term “therapist” to refer to anyone who provides psychotherapy services which may include clinical psychologists, social workers, counselors,[…]
Spring is a powerful time of new beginnings. The days draw out longer as new signs of life spring from the earth. We often feel inspired to begin spring cleaning in our homes and our gardens, clearing out the dust and old leaves to create fresh new space. It can feel liberating and refreshing to get rid of what no longer serves us. And perhaps this year we can apply[…]
Couples awaiting a new baby are often filled with excitement, worries, and fantasies as they prepare their lives to welcome new little bundles. The focus is usually all about baby: reading baby books and blogs, stocking up on gear, planning for the birth, washing and folding new baby clothes and blankets. But relatively little attention is paid to the relationship of the couple stepping into this new chapter together. Few[…]