Mental Health Topics

“Only-child syndrome” is a popular but controversial term used to describe a set of traits or characteristics thought to be common in children who grow up without siblings. These traits, often painted in a negative light, can include selfishness, loneliness, introversion, difficulty sharing, and an overdeveloped sense of independence. However,…

You’re ready to start therapy, but then the questions hit: Will my insurance actually cover this? How much will I end up paying? What if I get stuck with a massive bill I wasn’t expecting? These concerns are completely valid. Health insurance can feel like it was designed to be…

Picture this: You’re at the grocery store when someone ahead of you erupts into a screaming rage over a simple checkout delay. Or maybe it’s closer to home: A friend who seems calm one moment, then explodes into violent anger over something seemingly trivial, leaving everyone around them shaken and…

You’ve decided you want to talk to a therapist, but now you’re staring at a dozen browser tabs wondering where to even start. It’s completely understandable. Finding the right therapist involves both practical considerations (like insurance coverage and logistics) and something harder to define: that sense of connection and safety…

If someone has told you to “feel your feelings,” but you’re sitting there thinking “What does that even mean?” you’re not alone. I get this question from clients all the time. Here’s why it matters: The alternative is bottling everything up, and that never ends well. Your emotions don’t just…

More than 40 million Americans are living with a clinical anxiety disorder. Whether you fall into that camp or not, most of us have experienced stress recently—maybe over a looming work deadline or juggling a sick kid at home. When anxiety strikes, we often wonder: How do I make this…

It can be tough to know what’s going on in your child’s world. Little kids may not have the language to name their feelings, while older kids and teens may be resistant to opening up. As both a counselor and a mom, I recommend checking in with your children regularly….

There may come a time when someone with a mental health condition—like depression, anxiety, or PTSD—needs your help. While these conditions require proper treatment from a mental health professional, you can provide meaningful support through comfort, reassurance, and simply being present. When a friend or family member says, “I’m feeling…

A healthy relationship should make you feel safe, heard, and secure. Betrayal shatters that foundation entirely, leaving the betrayed partner feeling like their world has fundamentally changed and often questioning everything they thought they knew about their relationship. While betrayal occurs across all types of relationships, I see it most…

Your 8-year-old suddenly refuses to go to birthday parties. Your teenager has started coming home from school and immediately disappearing into their room. Your preschooler, who used to hop out of the car at daycare, now clings to your leg every morning. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not…

I had a picture-perfect childhood: loving parents, a nice house, a big yard and plenty of toys. My only concerns were going to school and playing with my Barbies, running off to soccer practice and riding my scooter, bugging my brother and watching Dragon Tales. Unfortunately, it never dawned on…

You’ve probably experienced a season of life that was the opposite of flourishing: You weren’t struggling with your mental health in a clinical sense, but you weren’t thriving either. Maybe you were stuck in an unsettling limbo—an awkward “in-between” of one life transition and the next. You felt unmotivated, lethargic,…