Blog
When February Feels Tender: A Nervous System Perspective
February is often framed as the month of love, filled with hearts, roses, and messages about romance and connection. For some, it truly is a joyful time. But for many others, this season can feel complicated, heavy, or unexpectedly emotional. If you’ve experienced...
You Were Never “Too Sensitive”: When Sensitivity is Actually Attunement
Many people who are drawn to therapy have been told at some point in their life that they were “too sensitive.” Or, maybe you were told this frequently. Maybe you still hear people saying it to you and just maybe you also hear yourself saying it to yourself. Recently...
Listening to Your Nervous System During the Holiday Season
Is your stocking hung by the chimney with care, or is it hanging by a thread? During the holiday season, it is very easy to get swept up in the parties, shopping, decorating, hosting, planning, magic-making, family gatherings, financial pressure, traditions, and all...
When Holidays Don’t Feel Safe: Healing After Family-Based Trauma
For many, the holidays are painted as a time of warmth, connection, and homecoming. But for those who experienced trauma or distressing events within their family, this season can stir up something very different. The idea of “going home” can feel like stepping back...
The Bermuda Triangle: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years
In 12-step programs there is a lot of talk this time of year about the “Bermuda Triangle”- Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Triangle, holds a mystical legend of people getting lost and disappearing. The triad of...
The Price of Being Good vs. The Freedom of Being Whole
So many of us have been taught—quietly, subtly, and sometimes outright, that the highest compliment we can earn is to be good. Good daughter. Good partner. Good employee. Good mother. Good = quiet, easy, accommodating, likable. Elise Loehnen, in her powerful book “On...
How to Talk to Your Teen About Therapy (Without Pushing Them Away)
As a therapist who works closely with teens and families, one of the most common questions I hear from parents is: “How do I talk to my teen about therapy without making them shut down or get defensive?” It’s a tough spot to be in. You see your child struggling,...
When Slip-Ups Happen in OCD Recovery: Why They’re Not the End of the Road
If you’re in the process of healing from OCD, you’re already doing incredibly hard and brave work. Facing fears, resisting compulsions, and sitting with discomfort day after day is no small task and it deserves to be honored. But before we talk about what happens...
The Invisible Load: Mental Health & Motherhood
Motherhood is often celebrated in visible ways—birthday parties, milestone moments, back-to-school photos. But behind the smiles and schedules lies something much harder to see: the mental and emotional labor that many mothers carry daily. This invisible load includes...
Understanding the Impact of Anxiety on Teens: A Guide for Parents and Educators
Today’s teens face a complex world filled with academic, social, and personal pressures, making anxiety one of the most common mental health challenges they encounter. As an adult who has been out of high school for over a decade, I can confidently say that the...
Handling Family Conflict with Confidence: EMDR in Action
By Emma Allocco Family relationships can be complicated, especially when they involve challenging or unsafe dynamics. Whether it's an overly critical parent, a manipulative sibling, or a relative who constantly pushes boundaries, these interactions can trigger intense...
Time Does NOT Heal All Wounds
We’ve all heard the saying, “Time heals all wounds,” and we want to believe it. Move on. Let the past be the past. But if that were true, why do so many people feel stuck, weighed down by emotional pain or reactivity long after a difficult event? Our brains are...