If you have decided that you want to work with a therapist, we imagine that your decision may not have come easily. For many people, realizing that it may be a good time to start therapy is progress on its own. What tends to follow, however, is a practical challenge that nobody prepares us for: […]
Defense mechanisms protect us from feelings that our mind has decided are too much to handle. It redirects, reframes, deflects, and sometimes distorts reality in convincing ways, all in the service of keeping us functional. These mental strategies are called defense mechanisms, and once we know how to recognize them, we start spotting them everywhere. […]
We recently presented to the Junior League of Nashville on the topic of “Managing Storm Anxiety.” Joined by Andrew Leeper from Nashville Severe Weather (we are huge fans so it was a thrill), we shared information about the different ways that people respond to severe weather and ways to manage it. Storms can evoke powerful […]
Most people feel hurt when they experience criticism or rejection. That response is human and expected. After all, we are wired to care about connection and belonging. Yet, for some people, the emotional impact of rejection feels even more intense. For example, a small piece of feedback, a delayed response, or a subtle shift in […]
When we think of social anxiety, we might think of someone who has a panic attack when they interact with other people or anticipate future interactions. However, social anxiety, also called social phobia, can show up in a variety of ways, many of which we wouldn’t recognize without digging a little deeper into the topic. […]
June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month and we believe that everyone can benefit from understanding more about PTSD. PTSD is estimated to impact 7.8% of Americans in their lifetime, and millions of people worldwide. If you aren’t impacted by PTSD, you likely know someone or several people who are. It’s important to note […]