How long are therapy sessions? What to expect for each type of therapy by Angela Myers | Oct 26, 2025 | Beginning Therapy, Mental Health Topics Starting something new always comes with questions, and therapy is no exception. What happens during sessions? How much time should you set aside? What if you need more time to process something difficult? These questions are valid, and they shouldn’t hold you back from starting therapy. Here’s everything you need…
Social anxiety is more common than you think: Here’s what it feels like and how to get help by Hannah DeWitt | Sep 18, 2025 | Anxiety, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Imagine attending a party where every conversation feels like a performance you’re failing. Your heart races as you walk through the door. You’re convinced everyone is staring at your outfit, judging your awkward small talk, or noticing how your hands shake when you reach for a drink. After forcing yourself…
Coping with depression: Practical strategies for managing your mental health by Alexandra Cromer, LPC | Feb 2, 2024 | Depression, Mental Health Topics Depression is a common mental health condition that has affected at least 29% of Americans at some point in their lives. As a result, mental health treatments for depression have become an essential part of coping with different types of depressive disorders. Learn more about depression symptoms, risk factors, and…
Nightmare disorder: Causes, symptoms, and treatment by Alexandra Cromer, LPC | Aug 10, 2023 | Disorders, Mental Health Topics, Sleep Everyone has a disturbing dream from time to time. However, when these dreams become persistent, they can interfere with one’s everyday life. And when this happens, it could be a sign of nightmare disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A straight-talking, informative guide by Taylor Bennett | Jun 8, 2023 | Mental Health Topics, PTSD, Trauma It is entirely natural to experience a range of emotions after a traumatic event. Most people recover from these initial reactions and feelings within a few weeks. However, if you have ongoing problems, there could be something else going on, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This practical guide will help…
DBT vs. CBT: How do they work, and is one more effective than the other? by Laura Harris, LCMHC | Mar 24, 2023 | Beginning Therapy, Mental Health Topics Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are two of the most commonly used approaches in psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. They both focus on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how they are intertwined. However, each technique has slightly different focuses, and therefore different…
Fetishistic disorder: Exploring fetishes, paraphilic disorders, and stigma-free treatment options by Jason Crosby | Nov 23, 2022 | Disorders, Mental Health Topics Most of us regularly have sexual thoughts and urges; sexuality is a unique and personal part of life. Our physical desires can manifest themselves in specific ways, and sometimes in the form of a sexual fetish, which is an attraction toward an inanimate object (or objects) or part of the…
Sexual sadism disorder: Definition, symptoms, treatment, and more by Taylor Bennett | Nov 22, 2022 | Disorders, Mental Health Topics People have different sexual preferences and fetishes are common, which create sexual excitement. In fact, they might be more common than you think: A survey conducted by CalExotics at Harvard Sex Week saw that 43% of respondents have (or believe they have) a fetish, and more than half have shared…
Understanding conduct disorder: Symptoms, causes, and treatment by Taylor Bennett | Oct 28, 2022 | Behavioral Issues, Children, Teens, & Adolescents, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Your 12-year-old son keeps getting in trouble at school — for picking on his classmates, lying to his teacher, and even stealing other kids’ things. You think he’s just “acting out.” Until you find out he’s been sneaking out at night for the last 6 months. It becomes apparent that…
Phobias: Common types, symptoms, treatment, and more by Taylor Bennett | Sep 29, 2022 | Anxiety, Mental Health Topics Do you freak out in tiny spaces? Are you deathly afraid of heights? Do you refuse to meet your friend’s pet snake? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have something in common with much of the population. As it turns out, many of us share fears…
A reliable roadmap for healing from sexual assault and sexual trauma by Wistar Murray | Jul 8, 2022 | Mental Health Topics, PTSD, Trauma Your abuser does not get to define the rest of your life. You can know this intellectually, but it’s a whole different beast to know it in your body. People who experience sexual assault might internalize their fear and trauma so they continue to feel unsafe in their skin. They…
Diversity and representation in counseling: Improving access to mental health care with a diverse clinical team by Taylor Bennett | May 6, 2022 | Beginning Therapy, Mental Health Topics, Race & Identity Think back to a time when you were “online shopping” for a new health care provider — be it a counselor, a primary care doctor, or a specialist. What did you look for? Who did you gravitate toward? Who did you trust? You likely perused their education, years of experience,…