Mental Health Topics

Parent-child relationships play a crucial role in shaping a child’s development and can influence their lives well into adulthood—sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. While most parents strive to do their best, they are human, and the challenges of raising children often lead to mistakes. As a result, conflicts and unresolved issues…

Congratulations on starting therapy! Making this choice is a big step. You invest time, energy, and sometimes money into your well-being, and just like if you had a physical illness, you want to know if the treatment is making a difference. I completely understand. It’s important to remember that therapy…

As you’re getting ready for a big night out with your best group of friends, you start hearing the texts come through. One person is sick. The other forgot about a school function. It’s just not a good night. Can we reschedule? If your first instinct is to spiral into…

In the post-COVID era, many of us instinctively reach for a disinfecting wipe to clean the grocery cart handle before shopping. While a healthy awareness of germs can protect us, excessive fear can disrupt daily life and well-being. Mysophobia, an intense anxiety about dirt, pathogens (germs), and contaminated objects, can…

This is a common question, as many people feel uncertain about couples therapy. Is it a dealbreaker? The answer isn’t always straightforward. While refusing to attend couples therapy can be a red flag, it doesn’t always mean the relationship is doomed. Every couple’s situation is unique, and there are other…

In a world where self-help books flood the market—more than 15,000 titles published annually—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of advice claiming to be the “best” or “only” way to transform your life. With so many options available, separating truly meaningful guidance from superficial fluff can seem…

Have you given any thought to your cortisol levels lately? The so-called “stress hormone” is a popular topic that’s often blamed for a wide range of symptoms, including exhaustion, bloating, anxiety, brain fog, muscle cramps, and lack of focus. However, as with any health “issue” that gains traction on social…

Boundaries are a popular topic right now, especially on social media. But if you consider yourself a people pleaser, you might find it stressful—if not impossible—to set them. I’m here to convince you that setting healthy boundaries is worth the effort, both for your own well-being and your ability to…

Gender dysphoria is the term used to describe deep feelings of distress, unease, and discomfort because one’s biological sex does not align with one’s gender identity, or the gender they feel they innately are. Gender dysphoria is a condition recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5),…

When you’re stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or all of the above, there’s nothing less helpful than being told to “calm down,” even if it’s your own internal monologue. Whether you’re drowning in work, trying to balance parenting with your own needs, or grappling with the loss of a relationship, sometimes life…

James Lavino’s first big break came by way of Winnie the Pooh. Spending his 20s in New York (circa the late 1990s), Lavino found himself composing scores for his friends’ documentary films and dipping his hand in whatever creative endeavors came his way—including editing at the literary magazine “The Paris…

You probably know someone living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), considering more than 15 million adults have been diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental disorder that affects focus and executive function. But despite being very common, many girls and women struggle to get a diagnosis, in part because ADHD symptoms present differently in…