Mortified at the thought of having to put yourself out there, feeling like everyone is watching you? Most of us have felt that way at some point, and while we know that there is no real danger, yet we are afraid. Here we discuss why this happens and how it is done out of a form of self-protection, and then what it takes to overcome these feelings, allowing you the freedom to just live your life.

Here a therapist explains what makes sandtray therapy effective, and what to expect when you put together a sandtray. Much like how we process our feelings in dreams, art, music, and in play, the miniatures used in sandtray therapy allow us to intentionally work through our feelings from a distance that feels safe, preventing us from completely ignoring our feelings by intellectualizing.

Ever wonder why so much time is spent in therapy talking about the past? Especially after you've already done the hard work to resolve past traumas, it is still important to look back. Tying in meanings from handmade art, a therapist shares more about how reflecting upon your journey helps you to recognize your own strength in order to help you the next time you are faced with challenges.

Much pain comes from all of our attempts to avoid feeling something hard. This is why therapy often seeks to create a space where you can safely feel your feelings, so that way you can better understand why those emotions are there and begin to heal from them. Here a therapist explains more about how this process works in therapy, and why it is important.

A lot of adults are just now discovering that they've struggled with ADHD or Autism their whole life. However, it's hard to try and meet your newly recognized sensory needs, without worrying about being seen as incompetent in a workplace that might still be ableist. Here we go through more subtle fidget tools and strategies for meeting those needs without it being obvious what you are doing.

Have you ever been asked what you want for dinner, and you can't make up your mind? Maybe others have commented on how you take so long to actually make a choice, and "it's not that big of a deal"? Maybe you go shopping, and when you are faced with tons of options, you just freeze? You might struggle with decision paralysis. Here we delve into why it is hard and how to help make it easier.

Parents these days are often drowning in shame and guilt about not being able to do it all. We all know by now that it isn't healthy, and that the expectations of society aren't reasonable, but what can you do to change the feeling? Here a therapist shares how you can actively reduce the shame in needing help, and how inner child work is usually needed to stop guilting yourself.

Do you tend to give your 110% when you decide to commit to doing something? It might look like switching jobs every few years after becoming a star employee and you continue to seek growth. Maybe you've felt tempted to proceed that way with self-improvement and your mental health. Here a therapist details why it may benefit you to actually do the opposite and practice breaking that very cycle.

Ever feel like kids these days make excuses and seem to be struggling more than they should with school? Here a therapist shares how the experience of school has radically changed. From the technology being used, to the restrictions in being able to connect with their peers, the world students are living in is so different from the one their parents grew up in. They feel unsafe and alone there.

A common theme amongst caregivers, people-pleasers, and those who are always helping others, is that we tend to have trouble buying things for ourselves. Yet, it doesn't actually have much to do with our financial circumstances at all. It has to do with our sense of self-worth. Here a therapist shares more about that connection, and ways to ease into showing yourself that you are worth the cost.

A lot of us who grew up in households where money was a stressor are used to looking for deals, but we forget that the experience felt is just as important. Or at least it is if you are practicing valuing yourself and your feelings. Here, I share my journey finding a hairstylist that made me feel comfortable, and I notice how this is the same value that I offer those who choose to work with me.

Why do therapists spend so much time talking about our thoughts and feelings? It is to give us awareness about how they are connected in order to help you have more control over your feelings. By stepping back to just notice thoughts as they arise, you make space for different interpretations to exist, giving you the chance to choose how you want to see things. Here we walk through an example.

You might have noticed that therapy offices tend to all have similar art in them: nature, landscapes, and abstract colors. Here we explore why that is, and what is being communicated through the art displayed. Therapists create a setting for healing, and so how does the art they pick help them do that?

Ever wonder why spas, therapy office, and other healing businesses tend to have strong scents available as you enter? Here we look at ways that aromatherapy helps you relax, exploring the physical impact of these aromas, as well as how they encourage activities for bodily self-regulation.

I chose an ammonite to represent my therapy practice for many reasons, with one of those being that is a spiral, like the cycle of change. When you are seeking out therapy, you are seeking change. Here I go through the difference stages of change and discuss how most of us stop when we get to the relapse stage, yet relapse is normal. We need to move past the shame of failure to keep growing!

Ever heard of ketamine therapy, and wondered if it might work for you? Or maybe you want to know just how it works? Here a therapist describes how it compares to other trauma therapies and describes the key components that make ketamine assisted psychotherapy work. Specifically, we explore how KAP uses the power of intention setting and meaning making through metaphors to heal long held wounds.

Ever go through your life drained, feeling like a zombie just going through the motions? I certainly have. Here I share some of my own introspection and reflect on how it isn't necessarily the things outside of us that change how we feel, but it is our own action. Not the results of us taking action, but our own agency, the movement within us helps to revitalize us when our energy is low.

Is there a little treat, song, or place that when you remember it, it makes you smile? Maybe you seek it out when you are distressed? Here I share a bit of my childhood routines to emphasize how as we grow up, a lot of what we do regularly with our family can become a source of comfort as an adult. How do you use that knowledge to comfort yourself? How can you use that info to comfort your kids?

Making a cute comparison with the delicious Indian treat, gulab jamun, here we stop to reflect upon what stops us from soaking up life's sweetness like these little fried spheres. After realizing what the barriers are, we explore a few tips to support actually letting in joy, helping us feel happier as we live our day-to-day lives.

Ever get a bill from a contractor where they did a bunch of stuff you never asked for, and it left you feeling taken advantage of, angry, and used? This is because there wasn't explicit consent about what was being done. This happens in relationships too where one person takes on a bunch of unsaid labor, and the other person feels blindsided when their partner is angry. We need to communicate!