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7 Hacks For Productivity Junkies From A Therapist Who Got Off The Hamster Wheel Without Losing Her Edge

7 Hacks For Productivity Junkies From A Therapist Who Got Off The Hamster Wheel Without Losing Her Edge

If you're like me, you love a good productivity hack. Double-tasking? Try triple-tasking. Systems and processes to keep things flowing from your inbox back out? You've got em.

Many of the high-achieving professionals I work with in therapy (lawyers, founders, physicians, and executives) operate this way too.

And yet... we never feel totally fulfilled, do we?

Here are seven things that transformed my relationship with productivity to help me focus on what matters and what's on my list without burning out.

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Is This Self-Care or Medical Fatphobia? Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a New Health Routine
Self Care, Holistic Therapy, Healthy Coping Laurel van der Toorn Self Care, Holistic Therapy, Healthy Coping Laurel van der Toorn

Is This Self-Care or Medical Fatphobia? Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a New Health Routine

There's nothing wrong with wanting to feel better in your body.

Whether it's starting a new medication, joining a fitness program, or changing the way you eat, many people seek out health routines hoping for more energy, less pain, or a greater sense of control.

But in a culture that equates thinness with health, and with moral virtue, it can be hard to tell when a choice is truly for your well-being. These choices are often rooted in shame or outside pressure instead.

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What Is the Soft Life and Should You Try It for Yourself?
Burnout Laurel van der Toorn Burnout Laurel van der Toorn

What Is the Soft Life and Should You Try It for Yourself?

You may have heard the term “soft life” floating around on social media or in lifestyle articles. It's often paired with images of sunlit brunches, cozy routines, or people stepping away from hustle culture due to burnout. At first glance, it can seem like just another aesthetic trend. But there's more substance to it than you might think.

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Understanding Your Teen’s Struggles In 2026: Why They Might Need Extra Support
Anxiety, Teens Laurel van der Toorn Anxiety, Teens Laurel van der Toorn

Understanding Your Teen’s Struggles In 2026: Why They Might Need Extra Support

Have you noticed that teens today seem more anxious, more dependent on their parents, or less confident than previous generations?

As teen therapists, we’ve seen a clear shift. Even years after lockdowns ended, many teens are still struggling to catch up socially and emotionally. While schools focused (appropriately) on academic recovery, emotional development often took a back seat, and it shows.

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What to Do If You Had a Bad Experience with EMDR Therapy
EMDR Laurel van der Toorn EMDR Laurel van der Toorn

What to Do If You Had a Bad Experience with EMDR Therapy

If you’ve landed on this page, it probably means you’re feeling confused, hurt, or discouraged after trying EMDR therapy. We want to say right up front: we’re so sorry that happened. When therapy is supposed to offer healing and instead leaves you feeling worse, it feels especially jarring.

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Dreading Family Gatherings? How EMDR Can Reduce In-Law Anxiety
Couples and Relationships, Family Dynamics, EMDR, Anxiety Laurel van der Toorn Couples and Relationships, Family Dynamics, EMDR, Anxiety Laurel van der Toorn

Dreading Family Gatherings? How EMDR Can Reduce In-Law Anxiety

A lot of people experience real anxiety about in-laws.

Sometimes it starts days before the event. You find yourself dreading the holiday, the dinner, the birthday party, the weekend visit. Your body tenses up before you’ve even left the house. You rehearse conversations in your head. You worry about what will be said, whether your partner will back you up, and how long it will take to recover afterward.

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Why Your In-Laws Trigger You So Much (And How EMDR Can Help)
Couples and Relationships, EMDR, Trauma, Family Dynamics Laurel van der Toorn Couples and Relationships, EMDR, Trauma, Family Dynamics Laurel van der Toorn

Why Your In-Laws Trigger You So Much (And How EMDR Can Help)

If you find yourself wondering, "Why do my in-laws trigger me so much?" the answer is usually deeper than “they’re annoying.”

Yes, maybe they are intrusive and critical and always seem to know exactly how to get under your skin. But when a reaction feels intense, immediate, or hard to shake, it usually means something in your nervous system is getting activated.

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Does EMDR Therapy Work Online? What The Research Says
EMDR, Trauma, Teletherapy Laurel van der Toorn EMDR, Trauma, Teletherapy Laurel van der Toorn

Does EMDR Therapy Work Online? What The Research Says

When EMDR therapy first became widely available online, many people had the same reaction:

Wait… this works over video?

EMDR therapy already feels a little unusual if you’re new to it. You think about a difficult memory while following eye movements or tapping your shoulders, and somehow the memory becomes less distressing.

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Our Holistic Therapy Services In California & Florida

We offer individualized teletherapy for a wide range of mental health and relational issues. Our San Francisco & Los Angeles therapists can help with anxiety, trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, LGBT gay and lesbian therapy issues, holistic therapy, enneagram therapy, therapy for lawyers, couples therapy, therapy for burnout, and therapy for teenagers. We serve many people in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles, as well as throughout California and Florida. Our team is anti-racist, body positive, LGBT and trans affirming and sex positive. You deserve to feel good!