The
BLOG
Does EMDR Therapy Work For Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma is pervasive and requires a skilled therapist to heal. From attachment wounds to emotional reactivity to nervous system dysregulation, it's a tough lot. EMDR therapy has proven time and again to be effective for trauma, but most research has explored how it works for single incident traumas. So does it work when the trauma is complex?
Should You Use AI as a Therapist? Current Opportunities, Limitations, and Concerns
The idea of AI replacing human therapists has sparked quite the debate. While some argue that AI could be a helpful tool for specific therapeutic tasks, others, including industry leaders like Sam Altman, highlight crucial ethical and practical concerns. In a recent statement, Altman candidly admitted that "AI is not confidential." While AI can help in some ways, it falls short in many areas critical to the work of a licensed therapist. Here are the risks it poses to clients:
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.
How to Handle “Holiday Regression”
The holidays can be especially challenging when returning to your family home. Many of us experience what's called "holiday regression," where we slip back into old patterns and behaviors that resemble how we acted as younger versions of ourselves. Here’s what that means and how you can prepare.
How to Handle Anxiety & Frustration From Holiday Travel Delays
Travel delays can be incredibly frustrating and anxiety-inducing, especially when you have places to be and plans to keep. During the holidays, travel gets more intense and the stakes feel higher. But with a few strategies, you can handle these delays with greater ease. Here's how to take the stress out of travel
Volunteering As Self Care: It's More Effective Than You Think
Research shows that most people who volunteer benefit more from the experience than the people or cause they are serving. Connection to something bigger than ourselves is important for our happiness. It's an avenue for personal growth and community enrichment. As therapists, we view community engagement and purpose as essential to your holistic wellness.
What Not To Say To Someone Who Has Sexual Trauma
There are many things you shouldn't say to someone who has been the victim of a sexual crime. After experiencing the ultimate loss of power and autonomy, too many people are accused of lying or exaggerating. Here are things you should never say to a survivor of sexual assault and what to say instead.
Don’t Say This: What Trauma Therapists Want You To Stop Saying
As trauma therapists, we have a pretty high capacity for things that are uncomfortable. But there's one particular phrase that we would appreciate never hearing again.
Changing Your Victim Mindset: Examples & Where It Comes From
Picture this: you wake up one morning, and everything is going wrong. Your coffee machine breaks, you're running late for work, and you hit every red light on your way. It's easy to fall into thinking, "Why does this always happen to me?" It's a natural response. But for those with a victim mentality, this mindset extends beyond a bad morning. It becomes a way of life.
Social Justice: Sustainable Activism and Preventing Vicarious Trauma
In a world where hashtags fuel movements and social platforms serve as soapboxes, activism has evolved. From the radical to the domestic, engaging in causes we are passionate about is empowering. But it can come with a hidden cost: vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Let's explore impactful ways to make a difference while safeguarding your mental health.
7 Boundaries You Can Set With Your Phone to Lower Anxiety
Most of us have complicated relationships with our phones. We can't live without them, nor would we want to. Overall, they're a net positive. But they also control a lot of our time and attention and raise our anxiety. Poor boundaries with our phones leads to stress, anxiety, and strained relationships. If you find yourself constantly glued to your phone, experiencing FOMO, or disconnected from the people around you, this article is for you. We’ll offer six strategies to help you build better boundaries with your phone.
Embarrassment, Humiliation, and Shame: Understanding the Differences
Embarrassment, humiliation, and shame often get lumped together. But they each have unique characteristics. Let's explore the distinctions between these feelings, what causes them, and how to respond.
Navigating Self-Care and Mental Health Amidst Layoffs
For many, work isn't just a means to a paycheck; it's a source of identity and purpose. When that sense of purpose is yanked away, it can be a devastating blow to one's mental and emotional well-being. Even if you haven't been laid off, seeing coworkers and friends get laid off can be anxiety-provoking. Read on to see our tips for the witnesses to layoffs. Your experience is important too.
Toxic Positivity: The Bright Side That Can Be Dark
How does a seemingly sunny attitude affect mental health, both for those who embrace it and those on the receiving end? Let's uncover the nuances of toxic positivity, spot its telltale signs, and learn how to respond to it.
Coping with the Mental Health Impact of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike In Los Angeles
The SAG-AFTRA strike has unleashed a wave of uncertainty and stress in Los Angeles. Artists are grappling with mental health challenges unique to the city's vibrant artistic scene. From constant uncertainty to financial strain and a loss of identity, the impact is profound. It is crucial for artists in Los Angeles to prioritize their mental well-being.
Guided Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep
Join Laurel Roberts-Meese, LMFT in this free guided 7-minute Progressive Muscle Relaxation meditation to reduce stress, anxiety, and sleep better tonight.
Trauma, Your Brain, and…Singing??
In addition to mental health, our Clinical Director is passionate about the arts. Listen to this 1-minute video she put together for her choir, Vox Femina Los Angeles, for quick info about how singing affects your brain, decreases dissociation, and can help you process trauma.
Easy Spring Cleaning: How-To For Mental Health
Give your mental health a boost without adding stress in your life - advice from therapists if you struggle with cleaning your home or work space.
What To Do When Someone Sets a Harsh Boundary With You
How to respond to harsh and unreasonable boundaries.
Coping with Loneliness During the Holidays
A therapist gives recommendations for coping with loneliness during the holidays.
Tune in to the latest
Listen to what our therapists are talking about on the latest podcasts, videos, and more!
AS FEATURED IN:
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!