I’ve always loved to write. (Go figure.) Therefore, I’ve always loved journaling. I got my first journal in elementary school; it was a bulky, white, furry diary with a rainbow patch in the center of the front cover. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and wrote in it…
A lot of people are intimidated or turned off by the terms “mindfulness” and “meditation.” But in reality, there’s nothing to be afraid of. And there’s no reason not to give them a try. Because time and time again, the same individuals who were skeptical of the practices discover just…
WARNING: TV Show Spoilers Included! Purpose of Therapy: Ms. Jessica Jones entered my office and threw herself down on the couch, arms crossed in her leather jacket, eyes glaring at the floor. When I welcome her to therapy she says “We can skip the bullshit introductions, okay? You’re my 4th…
Have you ever picked up a book during a difficult time, in hopes of being transported to a different place? In hopes of feeling safe and comforted? In hopes of returning to the present with a new and improved mentality? If you haven’t, you should. Because time and time again,…
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of the better-known cognitive behavioral therapy, which was developed by Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s. It highlights the importance of individual therapy as well as group skills training and teaches clients helpful skills such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation. While…
Oftentimes, we allow stress and anxiety to completely overtake us. We surrender to it and suffer from it—without even putting up a fight—because we’ve convinced ourselves that there’s no other option. But that just couldn’t be farther from the truth. In addition to counseling, there are a multitude of simple…
The coming of the new year elicits a wide range of emotions: excitement, anxiety, relief, apprehension, happiness, and even fear. Some of us are ready to embark on a new journey and leave the past behind, while others aren’t so sure about what lies ahead. Whatever the case, we could…
What is Mindfulness? Have you ever found yourself unable to shake the past? Or maybe you’re anxious about the future, and you can’t focus your attention elsewhere. In both regards, practicing mindfulness will bring you back to your center and to the current moment. Mindfulness is all about focusing on…
The infamous “Big 5” personality traits make up a five-factor model (FFM) in psychology, which is often used to evaluate an individual’s core qualities. These traits include openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—you can easily remember these with the acronym OCEAN. We all possess the “Big 5” traits…
If we’re being technical, therapy is the process of meeting with a counselor to tackle unhealthy or troubling behaviors, beliefs, feelings, and issues. But if we’re being honest, therapy is so much more than a straight-forward definition: it’s healing and revealing; it’s a life-changing journey; and it’s difficult… yet oh-so…
Born in 1895, Anna Freud was the sixth and last child of Sigmund Freud. An Austrian-British psychologist, she expanded on her father’s work and is considered one of the founders of child psychoanalysis. She discovered that children often needed different psychological treatment than adults, emphasizing the role that early disruptions…
“You were never there for me growing up,” Natalie manages to muffle through her tears. “A good father isn’t just present and financially supportive—he’s loving and emotionally supportive too.” She reaches for a tissue and wipes off the makeup running down her face, whilst maintaining her glare at the man…
