Gratitude has a way of grounding us—helping us see what’s here now instead of focusing on what’s missing. In a world that often feels divided, taking a moment to express genuine appreciation has never mattered more. A thoughtful word, a considerate gesture, or a shared moment of connection can ripple outward, reminding us that kindness…
The Wildflower Blog
Venture into the heart of therapy with the Wildflower blog. We delve into topics that matter, blending therapeutic expertise with genuine stories of hope and transformation. *Please note that our blogs are designed to inform only and are not intended to diagnose or treat mental health disorders.
Therapist Spotlight: Simone Watkins, MEd, LPC
Simone is a psychotherapist at Wildflower. In her clinical practice, Simone draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Psychodynamic, and relational theories. Simone works with adolescents, adults, couples, and family structures experiencing stressful transitions including the transition to parenthood, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, sexual challenges, and relationship issues. Simone has experience in addressing…
Why You Can’t Relax: Self-Criticism, Overcontrol, and What to Do About It
In a society that highly values productivity, perfectionism, and doing things right, it is easy to believe that we would not be as successful, functional, or achieving if we were not hard on ourselves. Common Self-Critical Thoughts Have you ever had thoughts that sound something like this? This type of thinking can give us the…
Therapist Spotlight: Sara Fetterly, MSW
Sara is a psychotherapist at Wildflower. In their integrative clinical practice, Sara draws on Psychodynamic Theory, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, and Attachment Theory while using evidence-based interventions from DBT and ACT. Sara works with adolescents, adults, couples, and family units experiencing stressful transitions, including the transition to parenthood, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, sexual challenges,…
Why is Making Friends as an Adult so Hard?
We all know what it feels like to be lonely. No one wants to be characterized as a “loner” or “antisocial,” and yet most of us have felt deeply disconnected from others at one time or another. When we feel lonely, it is easy to feel like we are, literally, alone. Research shows that loneliness…
Exposure and Response Prevention: Resisting the Anxiety Itch
Have you ever experienced a fear so strong that you would do anything to avoid situations that bring that feeling on? Many people experience this in various forms like: Most of the time, this fear and avoidance doesn’t get in the way of things that we care about, doing what matters in our life, and…
Somatic Therapy 101: A Conversation with the Body
Why Explore Somatic Therapy? When you think of “therapy,” the image of two people sitting across from each other holding mugs of tea might come to mind. And that image would not be wrong and, in fact, the process of talking through one’s problems can be exceptionally healing. But we all know emotions and memories…
Birth Trauma: When a Healthy Baby Isn’t the Whole Story
We often hear childbirth being described as “magical,” or “transformative,” which might resonate for some people, but what about those whose experiences feel quite the opposite? For many people who give birth, the birthing experience is associated with fear, powerlessness, and lack of control that can have lasting psychological and emotional impacts. Amongst so much…
Better Sex Starts with Better Conversations
Understanding Sexual Communication Sexual communication is just what it sounds like: it’s communication about sex. Seems simple, right? It isn’t, but not because some special or arcane set of skills are needed. Our culture teaches us to be profoundly uncomfortable and/or conflicted about sex. Many people spend a lifetime with another person without broaching the…
The ABCs of Postpartum Self-Care
All life transitions, even the joyful ones which mark the beginning of a new, wished-for chapter, are tough. The transition to motherhood is even more challenging than a move to a foreign country, getting married, or setting on a different career path. Why is that? The arrival of a baby forces changes that are abrupt,…
