If you have been researching EMDR therapy after a friend described it as transformative, or because a clinician mentioned it, this is a useful place to start. EMDR has become one of the most discussed treatments in mental health over the last decade, and the conversation tends to split between people who say it sounds […]
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. […]
At first glance, May feels hopeful. The weather is warmer. Summer is approaching. School is winding down. Vacations, graduations, celebrations, and longer days finally arrive after a long winter. Yet, for many of us, May can feel less like a fresh start and more like a stressful sprint to the finish line. Calendars become packed […]
At first glance, kindness and people pleasing can look almost identical. They can appear like showing up for others. Both can look like generosity, flexibility, and care. They also both often include saying “yes,” being accommodating, and trying to make things easier for the people around us. Yet, many of us have had the experience […]
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 […]
Most people feel uncomfortable when they receive criticism. Feedback can bring up embarrassment, disappointment, or self-doubt, among other challenging feelings. Yet, for some people, criticism feels much more intense. Even small pieces of feedback can linger for hours or days. A brief comment may replay in the mind repeatedly, triggering feelings of shame, anxiety, or […]