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…
Treatment Approaches
When the Body Speaks: Erectile Dysfunction and Mental Health
A Silent Reality for Millions For millions of men, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) isn’t just physical; it’s personal, emotional, and often carried in silence. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 30–50 million men experience erectile dysfunction. Despite how common it is, ED remains one of the most misunderstood and least openly discussed health challenges. Yet science…
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…
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…
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…
Curious About Dialectical Behavior Therapy? Here’s What You Need to Know
Written By Scott Meyer, MA, LPC and Eden Himidian, LCSW, PMH-C, RYT In this article we’ll pull back the curtain on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT. We’ll discuss what DBT is, why it exists, and what it might look like if you ever decide to give it a try. Let’s jump in. What does DBT…
Demystifying EMDR: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Might Be Right for You
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a powerful, well-researched therapy designed to help people heal from trauma and distressing life experiences. EMDR is a form of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro that uses eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to assist trauma survivors in processing distressing memories and beliefs. At…
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…
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your thoughts and have felt like your thoughts are pulling you out of day-to-day life or causing you to behave in ways that don’t feel in line with your values, you’re not alone. Many people come to therapy exhausted from trying to “fix” painful emotions or unhelpful thoughts. Acceptance…
Trauma and Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Practical Tools to Ease Distress
If you’re reading this, I’m going to take a wild guess: you’re curious about how trauma is treated through the lens of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Maybe you’re a clinician wanting to learn more about applying DBT to trauma, or perhaps you’re someone who has experienced trauma and is searching for ways to cope, heal,…
