Gender and sex are complex.
Gender is not as simple as putting people into neat boxes of “male” or “female.” A useful way to understand gender diversity is the gender health model, which encourages people to fully explore…
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The Effects of Sexual Assault on the Brain and Body
While it is common knowledge that sexual assault can be traumatizing, many people do not fully understand the profound effects it has on a survivor. As a society, we do not always discuss…
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“I Thought I Was Over It!” – Coping with the Return of Trauma Memories and Feelings
If you have gone through therapy or used other methods to heal from trauma experiences, you may have reached a point where you felt like your trauma was finally behind you. You felt…
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Coping with Grief During Social Distancing
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, countless people have had to face grief in many different forms. Perhaps you have dealt with the loss of a job, a relationship, a pet, or even your home….
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Too Much of a Good Thing? The Dilemma of Being an Overachiever
Do you remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? The hare is always in a rush, while the tortoise moves at its own slow, relaxed pace. Surprisingly, when the two race…
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What Is Brave? The Power of Parents to Inspire Courage
Lots of kids struggle with anxiety and worry in their everyday lives. Anxiety can take many forms. Maybe your daughter has trouble trying new things for fear they won’t go well. Maybe your…
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All Work and No Play? Why We Need to Take Advantage of Opportunities for Joy and Personal Growth
For some of us, it can feel like we should spend every moment of our days being productive. A wasted moment is a missed opportunity to make more money, impress your boss, start…
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What If My Child Won’t Go to Therapy?
So you have an anxious kiddo and you’ve tried teaching them to take deep breaths and to think positive thoughts. Maybe you’ve tried apps like Headspace or Calm or read books about worry….
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Self-Compassion: Treating Yourself as You Would Treat a Friend
If your friend called you and told you that they had a bad day at work, would you scold them? Would you berate them for making mistakes? Or would you let them know…
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What Is Telehealth Therapy, How Effective Is It, and Is It Right for You?
What Is Telehealth? Telehealth refers to the practice of seeing any doctor or health care professional using phone or videoconferencing. While many people are just finding out about telehealth due to current social…
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COVID-19 May Be Harder for People with Anxiety
Dealing with COVID-19 is difficult for most people, but often even more so for people who have struggled with anxiety in the past. If you have a history of OCD, health-related concerns, panic…
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Telehealth Treatment for Hairpulling: As Effective as In-Person Treatment
In Portland, Oregon, where I live, potential therapy clients have access to wide range of therapists who use evidence-based practices. However, this is not true for people who live in many other areas…
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Haunted by Memories of Sexual Assault? How Therapy Can Help Decrease Shame and Transform Your Emotions
Sadly, countless people in this country have been sexually assaulted. And for a long time, they were taught that they should not speak up about their trauma. Over the past few years, a…
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How to Talk About Coronavirus with Your Anxious Child
With the spread of the coronavirus to the US, people all over the nation are getting worried about staying healthy and that includes your kids. As a psychologist who specializes in working with…
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What to Do When Someone You Love Has a Hoarding Problem
Hoarding is a complicated issue. If someone you love has a hoarding problem, it’s easy for outsiders to assume that they are just disorganized. Or perhaps they simply don’t care if their home…
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Are Psychedelics Right for You? What You Need to Know
You can’t miss it. If you use social media, Netflix, television, or listen to podcasts, you have likely noticed increased attention on the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Maybe you’ve read Michael Pollan’s book…
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Lovingkindness meditation series
In times of difficulty one of the most helpful things to do is to simply respond with kindness. But that’s often easier said than done and it takes practice. Lovingkindness (LKM) or Metta…
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Ditch self-care. Try values instead.
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”– Jack Kornfield I have a secret, one that I hide from most of my other therapist friends and colleagues. I hate the concept…