Struggling with nonstop self-criticism? You’re not alone—and your anxiety may be disguising it as logic. In this blog post, we explore why anxious brains love “should-haves” and “what-ifs,” how shame sneaks in sounding reasonable, and why self-compassion is actually more effective than beating yourself up. If you're tired of putting quarters in the ass-kicking machine, this one’s for you.

Ever have one of those days where it feels like everything is working against you? You might be hangry.   Welcome to Vulnerability Factors.   In Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), we talk about Emotion Regulation, and if you’ve ever felt your mood skyrocket for no apparent reason, this is for you. Enter the acronym HALT. This gem comes from the 12-step recovery world and stands for: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired.

Sometimes, clients come to me struggling to put into words what happened when they were younger. Neglect is one of the more invisible forms of harm. A part of them knows they didn’t get the care they needed.

In our exploration of trauma, we’ve touched on the importance of understanding and acknowledging our experiences. But what about support?...

When grief doesn’t ease with time, it may be complicated mourning. Learn the signs and how therapy can help you move through it.

Discover the Six F’s of IFS therapy and learn how to connect with your inner parts using curiosity, compassion, and calm.

Let’s talk about that voice in your head—you know, the one that whispers (or yells), “You’re not good enough,”

Feeling anxious about history repeating itself? You're not alone. Here’s how to cope, take action, and find hope in uncertain times.

Fidgeting isn’t just about managing OCD or body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). It can also provide a much-needed outlet for anxiety, restlessness, or the urge to physically “do something.”

Ever find yourself in need of a quick emotional reset, but you're not sure how to do it without attracting attention and looking like a weirdo? Enter the world of Overt vs. Covert TIP skills—your secret weapons for calming down in any situation!   Overt TIP Skills are the more obvious strategies, while Covert TIP Skills are your undercover tactics when you need to fly under the radar. Here's how you can use both.

Ever feel like your emotions are like trying to steer a car on an icy road with no brakes?   Enter TIP skills—a quick pit stop to recalibrate your body chemistry and bring your emotions back into balance.   These Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques are for those moments when, as T. Swift sings, "YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN!"    TIP is like first aid for emotional overload.

Sometimes, when we face a crisis or high-stress situation, our body’s first instinct is to freeze. That sense of shutting down or feeling paralyzed is a survival mechanism—our nervous system’s way of protecting us. But in situations where staying stuck isn’t helpful, learning to “push” our way out of freeze mode can make all the difference.

What we do to relax matters, especially when we’re trying to heal from anxiety or trauma.   Sometimes, our downtime habits might inadvertently keep our stress response on high alert. If this resonates, it might be time to refresh your approach to relaxation as we enter into 2025 with a creative exercise inspired by Lisa Ferentz, LICSW, from her book Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Trauma Survivors.

Getting silly about DBT Skills

Traveling, whether for work, a friend’s wedding or a family holiday, can bring a mix of emotions.   On the one hand, you might be excited...

We’ve all been there—lying in bed, staring at the ceiling while our minds go into overdrive, cycling through every worry imaginable. It’s...

Reading the news can be upsetting. Regardless of your politics, it's important to learn strategies on how to stay globally informed and emotionally regulated. We might get dysregulated when we read the news. What matters is what we do with it. What matters is how we take care of ourselves afterwards so we can respond instead of react.