Latest Articles from the Blog

If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're the one people call when things fall apart. The friend who shows up with a plan. The daughter who manages the family crisis. The mother who has somehow become the household's entire nervous system — tracking everyone's needs, feelings, and schedules while quietly running on empty herself. And there's also a good chance that asking for help — real help, the kind where you actually lean on someone — feels almost unbearable. N

TL;DR: If vacations, weekends, or holidays leave you feeling anxious, irritable, restless, or strangely worse instead of better, you're not broken and you're not alone. For people who've lived with chronic stress, burnout, perfectionism, or trauma, the nervous system can adapt so fully to "on" mode that stillness itself starts to feel unsafe. This post explains the biology behind that experience, normalizes it with real-life examples, and outlines how trauma therapy and nervo

If you've ever thought, “Maybe therapy isn't really necessary for me,” or “I should be able to handle this on my own,” you're not alone. Many people who could benefit from therapy carry understandable fears and misconceptions about what therapy is supposed to look like. For women with complex trauma, perfectionistic tendencies, or lifelong patterns of people-pleasing, hesitation around seeking mental health support can be especially complicated. Maybe you learned that your ne

If you feel constantly on edge, emotionally numb, or overwhelmed by small things, your nervous system may be stuck in survival mode. This isn’t a personal failure—it’s a trauma response. What Does “Survival Mode” Mean? Survival mode occurs when the nervous system perceives ongoing threat, even when danger has passed. This is common for people with trauma histories, especially complex or developmental trauma. Common Signs of a Dysregulated Nervous System Chronic anxiety or pa

Many people-pleasers describe themselves as “nice,” “empathetic,” or “easygoing.” But beneath chronic people-pleasing is often a nervous system that learned early on that staying attuned to others was necessary for safety. People-pleasing isn’t a flaw—it’s a survival response. What People-Pleasing Really Is People-pleasing is the habit of prioritizing others’ needs, emotions, or comfort at the expense of your own. For many millennial women, this pattern developed in childhood

Many millennial women come to therapy feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and frustrated that they’ve “done the work” but still feel triggered. You may understand why you are the way you are—yet your body continues to react as if the past is still happening. This is where trauma therapy differs from traditional talk therapy. Trauma lives not just in thoughts, but in the nervous system. What Trauma Can Look Like Trauma doesn’t always come from one obvious event. For many millennia

If you’re curious about whether EMDR therapy can be done virtually, the answer is yes — EMDR can absolutely be done online . Research shows it can be just as effective as in-person EMDR . As trauma therapists embrace telehealth, virtual EMDR has become a powerful and accessible option for healing PTSD, complex trauma, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation — all from the safety and comfort of home. Yes, this means you can join in your PJs if you like! Let’s explore

Finding the right therapy can be a daunting task. EMDR therapy is a powerful tool for healing trauma. It helps people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact. If you're searching for "EMDR therapy near me," you're not alone. Many seek this therapy for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. EMDR therapy is recognized by major health organizations for its effectiveness. It offers a structured approach to healing. In this guide, we'll explore how to find EMDR ther

Unsure about how to take care of yourself after an EMDR session? Read on

For this week’s blog I got the opportunity to sit down with Caitlin Weese, LCSW-C, CCTP a trauma specialist in the Frederick Maryland...

In a perfect world, every employer would allow and promote taking days off to focus on your mental health when you feel you need it....

What is EMDR? EMDR Intensives are an alternative to traditional EMDR therapy. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based therapy approach widely recognized for its effectiveness in treating trauma-related issues. It's a structured, eight-phase process that uses bilateral stimulation to access the emotional part of the brain. This assists individuals in processing distressing memories and resolving the emotional, cognitive, and physiological

If you weren’t living under a rock the last few months, it was likely impossible to ignore all of the media coverage focused on ‘Barbie’...

Describing yourself as a “perfectionist” has always raised an eyebrow or two. People assume you’re either trying to win someone over,...

No matter where you are on your healing journey, the anniversary of your trauma could affect you in various ways. It’s important to remember that every individual affected by trauma is going to be impacted in unique ways, including reactions to the anniversary of a traumatic event. This article won’t be one size fits all. You may experience all of these symptoms, just a few of them, or none at all. The way your trauma presents itself will be individual to you. What is a trau

Simple Guide to EMDR EMDR has quickly become a popular psychotherapy treatment. You may have heard a friend mention it or seen an...

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve explored why the holidays can be hard and how to protect your mental health. Between the financial...

The holidays are notoriously not the easiest on your mental health; you can read more about that here. While the holidays can bring joy, happiness, and excitement they can also bring sadness, dread, and anxiety. As we go into this holiday season remember that it’s okay to feel your feelings. Your feelings are valid and you’re definitely not alone in the holiday slump. So many people struggle mentally during the holidays! Luckily there are ways to avoid falling too deep into t

Why is the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year” not really wonderful at all? The National Alliance on Mental Health found that 64% of individuals living with a mental illness felt that their condition worsened around the holidays. There are a variety of reasons that the holidays can be hard on everyone, especially those struggling with mental health. In this article, I’ll discuss some of the most common reasons the holidays can be…not so jolly. Over the next few weeks, keep an

Going to therapy can be a scary task if you don’t know what to expect. Everyone knows how therapy works though, right? The common...