Awakening Desire: Using Pleasure Mapping to Explore Sexual Agency 

What is Desire? The World Health Organization defines sexual health as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality…Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence. For…

Tuning In: How the Vagus Nerve Helps You Come Home to Your Body

Feeling out of it lately? Like your brain and body are on different planets? You’re not alone. Whether it’s the constant stream of bad news, the stress of trying to keep up, or the exhaustion of navigating life in uncertain times, your nervous system may be working overtime just to keep up. The experience of…

Compassion in Action: Supporting LGBTQ+ Loved Ones on Their Fertility Journey

Happy Pride Month from all of us at Wildflower Center for Emotional Health! This Pride Month, we are shining a light on how to be an effective ally and friend to people in the LGBTQIA+ community going through infertility. Infertility is a deeply emotional experience, and for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples, the journey to parenthood…

“You’re SO Sensitive!” There Could Be a Reason

Have you been told by others that you’re always so sensitive? Have you ever felt it is difficult to uphold the fast paced and multi-tasking expectations our society and culture places on us without being overwhelmed? Have you noticed you think quite deeply about things and may enjoy deep conversations?  Do you tend to take…

The Highly Sensitive Parent: How to Navigate the Overwhelm and Embrace Your Strengths

Parenting is challenging for everyone—but for highly sensitive people, parenting can feel especially intense. The daily sounds, chaos, emotions, and decisions can stir up big feelings and overstimulation. If you identify as a highly sensitive person, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. In fact, you may have strengths that make you an especially attuned, empathic,…

What Is Parental Burnout? A Guide for Overwhelmed Parents

“Burnout” is a term being used more and more as we navigate ever-changing times with an increasing amount of stress and responsibilities. Although the term has traditionally been used in work-related contexts, there is mounting research diving into how caregiving and parenting roles can also breed feelings of burnout. The International Journal of Environmental Research…

Postpartum Depression: What Are the Symptoms?

If you’re in a season of having kids or considering having kids, chances are you know someone who has experienced Postpartum Depression (PPD). Studies show as many as 21% of new moms experience PPD (Wisner et al., 2013), but what does that actually mean? We are going to break down the symptoms associated with PPD…

Recognizing and Celebrating Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the emotional and psychological challenges that many women face during the transition to parenthood. Conditions like postpartum depression, anxiety, and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated, affecting not only mothers but also their families and children’s development.  Although…

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…

Addressing Physician Burnout: Roadmaps to Wellness

Burnout is a growing and deeply concerning issue within the medical profession. It is not a matter of inadequate coping skills or personal weakness. Burnout is a response to chronic, often overwhelming demands placed on physicians in today’s healthcare system. At Wildflower Center for Emotional Health, our team of licensed therapists work with many physicians…