When psychotherapists think of harm reduction, many immediately picture syringe exchange sites, overdose prevention kits, or community-level substance use interventions. Although these interventions are critical for keeping those who use substances safe, harm reduction is far broader than just these interventions. A harm reduction lens is profoundly relevant to everyday psychotherapy, and can complement so…
Individual Psychotherapy
Rocky Terrain: Navigating Rupture and Repair in Psychotherapy
Therapeutic relationships, like all human connections, are complex and sometimes messy. Ruptures—moments of misattunement, misunderstanding, or conflict—are inevitable. Yet, it is in the repair that the true work of therapy unfolds. Addressing ruptures and working through them fosters resilience, deepens trust, and models relational healing. The Therapeutic Alliance: A Foundation for Repair The therapeutic alliance…
Untangling Your Thoughts: An Introduction to CBT
Ever catch yourself making a choice you knew wasn’t the best – and wonder why you did it anyway? Maybe there was a moment that stirred up a strong emotion you did not expect, or a first impression of someone that stuck with you no matter what. The truth is, our thoughts have a way…
Chatbots Don’t Do Empathy: Why AI Falls Short in Mental Health
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…
Can AI Really Be My Therapist? The Limits of Healing Without Human Connection
We’re living in a time when the demand for mental health support far outpaces the availability of providers. Stigma still lingers. Waitlists can stretch for months. Costs are prohibitive. It makes sense that more and more people are turning to AI apps for emotional support. But can AI ever truly replace therapy? Or, more importantly:…
Therapy Insights: Learning to Control What We Can Control
You may have heard the old phrase, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” This quote resonated with me as I with thinking about this post, mostly for its incompleteness, especially in the context of my work. Being a therapist, one thing I witness day in and day out is the inevitability of pain. If…
ACT, CBT, DBT, EMDR, ERP: A Guide to Evidence-based Therapies
When you first enter the world of therapy, you might not know exactly where to start. That might have something to do with a feeling that you don’t know the lingo and can’t make sense of the alphabet soup. Every therapist will have a slew of letters behind their name – LCSW, PsyD, CST, LMFT,…
Psychotherapy at Wildflower: 15 Ways It Can Make You a Better Person
Psychotherapy is not only about dealing with the negative and painful parts of your life. If you are willing to put in the work, psychotherapy can make you a better person in more ways than we can count. Here are 15 of them: We invite you to learn more about the myriad way psychotherapy can…
May Your Days Be Merry and Bright: A Therapist’s Take on Navigating the Holiday Season
The holiday season has arrived like an unexpected snowstorm, announcing itself with a burst of shopping frenzy and festive chaos, sweeping us up before we can catch our breath, pack away our summer sneakers, and button our coats. Every November, like clockwork, I’m surprised by how swiftly this time comes. ‘It was just September!’ I…
Cultural Humility in Psychotherapy: What You Should Know and Why It Matters
Cultural humility can be defined as: “a practice of self-reflection on how one’s own background and the background of others impacts communication, interpersonal relationships, teaching, learning, research, creative activity, engagement in leadership, etc.” (University of Oregon Division of Equity and Inclusion, 2024). That definition is relatively vague, as cultural humility is a term utilized in…
