As an AASECT-certified sex therapist, I often hear people describe themselves as ‘broken’ when they walk through my door. ‘What is wrong with me?’ is a common refrain, spoken with shame, often through tears. Therapy can feel like a last-ditch effort to “fix” yourself. I understand why you might feel that way. But let me…
Treatment Approaches
Values-Based Resolutions: How to Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve
At the end of each year, many of us find ourselves reevaluating habits that we feel are not benefiting our mind, body or soul. We see the upcoming new year as a chance to turn an unhelpful habit into one of value. When the new year begins we feel motivated with a fresh sense of…
ACT, CBT, DBT, EMDR, ERP: A Guide to Evidence-based Therapies
When you first enter the world of therapy, you might not know exactly where to start. That might have something to do with a feeling that you don’t know the lingo and can’t make sense of the alphabet soup. Every therapist will have a slew of letters behind their name – LCSW, PsyD, CST, LMFT,…
Something Better Than New Year’s Resolutions
As the new year rolls in, many people embrace the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions, often aiming to lose weight, exercise more, or quit troubling habits. These goals initially feel like an empowering way to start fresh, but can prove stressful and difficult to maintain. Most people abandon them by the end of January.…
Thoughts and Feelings: What Are They and What Do I Do About Them?
Welcome to Part 3 of Flexibility of the Mind webzine series! In Part 1 and Part 2 of this webzine series, we defined psychological flexibility, asked some hard hitting questions about thoughts and feelings, and summarized the “Noticing Self” and ways to stay present. If you need a refresher, keep reading! Take a moment to…
Healing Through EMDR: Getting Grounded in Shaky Times
After completing part two of my Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training this past weekend, I left feeling grounded, energized, and — dare I say — hopeful. This felt like a stark contrast to the energy of the weeks and months leading up to it given the anxiety we have collectively been buzzing with.…
Sexuality, Infertility, and Mental Health: Bridging the Gaps
Article by Kate Ernstrom, LCSW, PMH-C, CST and Gabby Pendley, LCSW, CADC, PMH-C Infertility is a highly personal journey, impacting not only one’s hopes for the future but also emotional, relational, and sexual health. In today’s world, an estimated 10-15% of couples experience infertility (ASRM, 2023), a reality that often creates a ripple effect across…
Honoring the Complexities of Perinatal Loss: A Guide for Clinicians
Loss is one of the most painful and often isolating experiences within the perinatal community. Perinatal loss, which encompasses miscarriage, stillbirth and death of an infant in the first month of life, is a deeply personal and often unspoken grief. The silence surrounding this loss can lead grieving individuals to suffer alone, without the support…
Cultural Humility in Psychotherapy: What You Should Know and Why It Matters
Cultural humility can be defined as: “a practice of self-reflection on how one’s own background and the background of others impacts communication, interpersonal relationships, teaching, learning, research, creative activity, engagement in leadership, etc.” (University of Oregon Division of Equity and Inclusion, 2024). That definition is relatively vague, as cultural humility is a term utilized in…
Cultivating Harmony Within: Integrating Parts Work into Psychotherapy
In recent years, parts work has emerged as a transformative approach in psychotherapy, championing a holistic and compassionate path to mental health. By acknowledging that our minds are made up of different subpersonalities referred to as “parts,” this method offers a dynamic framework for addressing emotional and psychological challenges. Among the diverse therapeutic approaches to…
