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The Mental Health Impact of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
If you’ve been struggling with mental and physical health issues that don’t seem to respond to traditional treatments, MCAS may be playing a role. Let’s explore what MCAS is, how it affects the brain, and how to tell if your mental health challenges could be linked to mast cell dysfunction.
Why Is My Trauma Showing Up Now?
It's entirely possible (and common) for trauma symptoms to appear long after the event occurred. In fact, delayed PTSD is a well-documented response.
Here's why trauma can show up later, what might trigger it, and how working with a trauma therapist—especially one trained in EMDR therapy—can help you find lasting relief and healing.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Burnout?
If you're feeling completely drained, disconnected, and wondering how long it will take to feel like yourself again, welcome. As therapists who work with high-achievers, we've seen firsthand how devastating burnout can be to your motivation, health, relationships, and self-esteem. So how long does it take to recover from burnout?
Protecting Your LGBT Relationship Against Political Stress
The first half of 2025 has been particularly difficult for our LGBT community. As we are all aware, political unrest and targeted efforts to strip away our rights have accelerated in recent years. These forces have taken an especially heavy toll on our trans siblings. It’s in times like these that relationships within our community are tested. Here are ways to fortify your LGBT relationship against the political stress we are facing.
Communicating with Your Teen: 7 Questions That Build Trust and Connection
Communicating with your teenager can be tough. You might ask how they’re doing and get a shrug, a grunt, or a quick “fine” before they disappear into their room. As a parent, this can feel discouraging, especially when you want to stay connected and supportive during some of the most emotionally intense years of their life.
Celebrating Alexis Harney, LMFT!
We’ve got some exciting news: Alexis Harney has become licensed to practice independently in California! The journey to licensure is a long one for therapists, requiring 2-3 years of graduate school, multiple board examinations, and 3000 hours of supervised experience. This is a major life accomplishment for Alexis; please join us in congratulating her!
What To Expect When You're Seeing A Therapist To Get A Letter of Support For Gender Confirmation Surgery
If you're a trans person receiving gender affirming care, you know it sometimes involves jumping through some annoying hoops. While overall access to trans-affirming healthcare is getting easier in California, there are still some steps we wish weren't there. One of those is getting a letter from a mental health professional to undergo gender confirmation surgery. We hope this step is eliminated soon. But until then, we'll continue to offer our assessment and letter writing services. If you're considering coming to us for this kind of assessment, here's what you can expect.
What To Expect From Your Teen During the High School to College Transition
It's graduation season, and your teen's future is the perpetual topic with friends and family. But the leap from high school to college is a deeply emotional experience. For many teenagers, this change represents a loss of familiarity, structure, and identity. They may be leaving behind childhood homes, long-time friendships, sports teams, pets, hobbies, and anything else that made them feel secure. Here's what to expect and how you can support them.
Everything You Should Know If You're Considering Taking Medical Leave For Burnout
Burnout can be completely devastating to your life and health. It's not just a sense of dissatisfaction and lack of motivation. Burnout can cause serious health issues, not to mention damage relationships and self esteem. If you're considering taking medical leave, you probably have some reservations. Here's our complete guide so you can make an informed choice.
What We Want Everyone To Know About EMDR Therapy
It's easy for us to be enthusiastic about EMDR therapy. As a staff, we have over 10 years of experience using it, and we see radical transformations every day. But what might seem second-nature to us often isn't to our clients. Here's what you should know about EMDR therapy if you're considering it.
Does My Fiancé Asking for a Prenup Mean They're Planning to Divorce Me?
If your fiancé just brought up getting a prenup and your stomach dropped a little, you’re not alone. It's easy to associate prenups with worst-case scenarios or imagine it as someone saying, “I don’t trust this to last.” But in reality, a prenup isn’t about preparing to leave—it’s about planning to stay. And more importantly, it’s about protecting both of you.
How to Make Friends with Your Nervous System: Holistic Therapy for Anxiety
Partnering with your nervous system rather than fighting it is the fastest way to calm your anxiety. Here are six steps to do that from our Los Angeles anxiety therapists.
A Couples Therapist Reacts to Love Is Blind
What reality TV can teach us about real relationships – from a Los Angeles couples therapist.
Anxiety v. OCD: What’s The Difference?
It’s not uncommon to hear people mistakenly use “anxious” and “OCD” interchangeably. Maybe someone says they’re “so OCD” because they like things neat, or they describe their worries as obsessive. But while anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can look similar on the surface, they’re very distinct mental health conditions. They have different patterns and needs for treatment. And unfortunately, even a lot of therapists can't distinguish them unless they have specialized training.
8 Questions That Show Your Partner You’re Truly Listening
Have you ever been in the middle of a deep discussion and found yourself at a loss for what to say? Here are 8 loving questions you can ask to keep the conversation going and deepen your connection to your partner when they’re stressed, hurt, upset, or grieving.
What Enneagram Type Shows Up in Therapy Most Often?
Ever wonder which Enneagram types show up most often in therapy? While all types can and do benefit from therapy, certain types are drawn to therapy more frequently. Here are the types our Enneagram therapists see most often.
What To Do If Your Partner Acts Differently Toward You Around Family or Work Colleagues
Noticing your partner behaving differently around family or colleagues can feel confusing or even hurtful. They might seem more distant, overly agreeable, or act in a way that feels out of character compared to how they are in private. While this shift can be unsettling, it doesn’t always mean something is wrong in your relationship. Understanding the underlying reasons and addressing them with care is key.
Six Great Reasons to Start Therapy
Starting therapy is a powerful choice for anyone seeking personal growth and emotional well-being. Whether you're facing big changes or wanting to heal old wounds, here are six great reasons to consider therapy:
This One Phrase Can Help You De-Escalate Conflict Immediately
There’s one simple phrase that can shift the tone of a heated conversation, calm tensions, and foster collaboration. Our therapists recommend it as a great way to diffuse a heated situation.
Why is Moving So Stressful for Couples?
Moving stirs up all of our most sensitive inner issues: money, security, connection, community, and meaning. Understanding why moving is so challenging for couples can help you navigate this stressful time with patience and teamwork.
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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!