As a therapist, I’ll admit my bias upfront: I’m skeptical of quick fixes and anything that tries to replicate the therapeutic relationship—especially something as impersonal as artificial intelligence. When I first heard about AI chatbots being used for mental health support, my gut reaction was a mix of concern and curiosity. Could a chatbot really…
The Silent Struggle: Perinatal OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
Before giving birth to your child, you might have expected sleepless nights, dirty diapers, and emotional ups and downs. What you might not have expected were terrifying, intrusive thoughts that seemed to come out of nowhere. Some of these thoughts might look like images of accidentally dropping your baby down the stairs or of harming…
Embracing Your Winter Arc: A Guide to Seasonal Self-Care
The latest social media trend, the “Winter Arc Challenge,” encourages people to jumpstart their “New Year, New Me” goals as the seasons begin to shift. This challenge emphasizes self-discipline, restoration, and goal-setting through a set of structured guidelines. Though rules vary, popular videos on TikTok often feature routines that include rigid workout schedules, specific dietary…
Somatic Experiencing 101
“I have come to the conclusion that human beings are born with an innate capacity to triumph over trauma. I believe not only that trauma is curable, but that the healing process can be a catalyst for profound awakening—a portal opening to emotional and genuine spiritual transformation. I have little doubt that as individuals, families,…
Cycle Syncing: Increasing Emotional Well Being During Your Menstrual Cycle
In school, we are taught what a period is. For many people, the education on the menstrual cycle stopped there. This education gap has caused not only an information deficiency for those who menstruate, it has also perpetuated a stigma that women are “just overly emotional” during certain points in their cycle. This has left…
Preventive Measures for Seasonal Depression
What is seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder)? As the end of January arrives, we find ourselves in the doldrums of winter. The winter blues are a common experience for many people living in certain climates, and the lack of sunlight, limited time outside, and potential disdain for cold weather create the perfect winter storm that…
What Neuroscience Tells Us About Emotional Flooding and 8 Ways to Feel More in Control of Your Emotions
Source: Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Have you ever felt so overcome with emotions that it’s difficult to control your response to others? Perhaps you feel fine one moment and the next you are slamming doors, sending an unfiltered text message, or yelling at your partner. You may also feel your heart pounding and…
Shining the Light of Togetherness on the Mental Health Awareness Month
Source: Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash Whether it be during May for Mental Health Awareness month or at any time during the year, there are many ways to help promote awareness and acceptance of mental health issues and care. Now more than ever, we are seeing the prevalence and importance of mental health issues…
Learning About Therapeutic Modalities: What Is the Unified Protocol (UP)?
Source: photo by Eneko Uruñuela on Unsplash Psychotherapy is a rich and vibrant field that is continually evolving. This means there is a great variety of therapeutic approaches practiced by mental health professionals. Some, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, are well-known and widely researched. Today we’d like to introduce you to a promising, newer modality…
Negative Automatic Thoughts: How to Reframe Them and Take Back Your Power
Source: Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash What are automatic thoughts? Automatic thoughts are something you may or may not be aware of when going about your daily life. These come up when your mind naturally takes in stimuli throughout your day and makes an attempt to interpret that information. There tend to be many…
