Sometimes it is difficult to accept situations they did not choose, expect, or want. When something painful happens, our minds naturally search for explanations: Why did this happen? What could I have done differently? Why didn't they act differently? What if things had gone another way? Why me? These questions are...
When we think about grief, we often picture funerals, condolences, and public rituals that signal something significant has happened. But not all losses are recognized in this way. Some grief lives quietly beneath the surface—unspoken, unvalidated, and often misunderstood. Psychologist Kenneth Doka coined the term disenfranchised grief to describe losses that...
Receiving a new diagnosis can start a life transition. Whether it is a medical condition, a chronic illness, or a mental health diagnosis, the moment you hear those words often divides life into “before” and “after.” Even when the diagnosis provides relief or clarity, it can still trigger a deep...
In clinical practice, difficulties with weight are rarely about food alone. They are more accurately understood as manifestations of emotional regulation patterns, nervous system functioning, and long-standing cognitive schemas. Emotional hunger and compulsive eating are not failures of self-control but adaptive strategies that once served a purpose and can be...
Embracing Life Transitions Through Self-Compassion Life transitions arrive in many forms: stepping into adulthood, changing careers, becoming a parent, retiring, separating, or grieving. Sometimes these changes come through intentional choice; other times, they enter unexpectedly. Regardless of origin, transitions commonly stir uncertainty, hope, grief, confusion, and self-doubt. Transitions can activate fear of...
Myths, Truths, and What We Must Talk About As a psychotherapist supporting parents in the perinatal period, I’ve heard it all—the well-meaning advice, the one-size-fits-all platitudes, and the internal struggles masked behind smiles. Postpartum is a profound transformation, not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and relationally. Yet despite increased awareness, too many...
