HOUSTON THERAPY

The arrival of a new baby is often celebrated as one of life's most joyful milestones. While welcoming a child can bring excitement, love, and hope, it also comes with significant physical, emotional, and mental changes. For many new parents, the postpartum period can be filled with unexpected challenges that are rarely discussed openly. Postpartum mental health is an important part of overall well-being, yet it is often overshadowed by conversations about newborn care

The FIFA World Cup is more than just soccer. As Houston welcomes fans from around the world, the city is coming together through shared traditions, unforgettable moments, and a love for the game. But what makes the tournament so emotionally powerful? It all comes down to our human need for connection, belonging, and community.

As a therapist, I'm always attuned to patterns—how we grow, how we connect, and how we respond to challenge. Recently, I participated in the MS150, a 150-mile charity bike ride that supports research and care for those living with multiple sclerosis.

Starting college can be a new and exciting experience. It’s full of possibilities: new friendships, new classes, and a fresh start in a new place. But alongside all that excitement, being in a new environment with newfound independence can sometimes feel isolating and lonely, and you may find yourself missing your friends and family quite a bit. The transition from home to college is big, and it can stir up a lot of emotions. You’re not alone in feeling this way. In fact, it’

The fit between therapist and client is essential for personal growth.

Making friends as an adult is not all that easy at times. We don't have the same social environments we did as kids, being made to go to school or to sign up for extracurricular activities. We don't have a parent whose friends have children, or neighbors wanting us to come out and play, and it can feel like almost everyone already has their set forever-friend-group

Online dating has become a prevalent way to connect with potential partners. While it offers incredible opportunities for finding companionship, it can also be emotionally and physically taxing. It's essential to practice online dating hygiene to ensure your emotional well-being and foster meaningful connections. Just as you maintain personal hygiene for physical health, nurturing healthy online dating habits is crucial for your mental and emotional well-being. 1. Self-Reflec

Are you opposed to engaging in conflict in your interpersonal relationships? Do you buy into the narrative that “healthy relationships”...

Pets can be important for our mental health. Here are five good reasons to own a pet.

Reciprocity: mutual dependence, action, or influence; a mutual exchange of privilege. Reciprocity in relationships is an idea that comes...

What is Attachment Theory? Psychologists John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth’s research helped us to understand what we now call attachment styles, which is the way we engage in relationships. There are three major kinds that the most study has been done on; anxious, secure and avoidant. Anxious attachment people crave intimacy over everything. They’re more likely to perceive possible negative connotations from their partners and seek closeness in order to feel more secure. If the

One of the most frequent DBT skills I find myself teaching in individual therapy is DEAR MAN. This skill comes from the Interpersonal Effectiveness module of DBT, which focuses on how to build and improve relationships. There are 4 different skills within Interpersonal Effectiveness, and DEAR MAN is only one of them (although the most popular and well-known)! DEAR MAN focuses on objective effectiveness, which means how to ask for something that you want or need from another i

Conflicts with others are typically uncomfortable experiences for most people. Frequently having disagreements with another person is stressful and often can be a hurtful experience, especially when it is with a partner you love, a friend you care about, or a colleague you respect. Most people like to feel connected and aligned with the people in their lives, so they avoid experiencing conflicts or try to minimize them. People also typically prefer to feel heard and validated

When considering whether or not therapy may be beneficial, individuals often fall into one of two categories. The first category consists of

One of the most difficult events that can happen in a relationship is infidelity. Relational safety is leveled to a 0 after an affair, and many begin to doubt their partner’s love and commitment to them entirely. There are many who say “I would never stand for that, I’d definitely leave!” when thinking about an affair in theory, but most of those same people find that it’s a much more complicated decision in practice. That is because we love our partners even when we feel bet

Connection with others is more important than you might think. Meaningful connections with others lowers anxiety and depression, raises self-esteem, improves immune function and helps with emotional regulation. The human brain is hard wired to seek connection because evolutionarily people needed to band together to survive. So what is connection? Connection is a feeling of belonging and closeness that allows us to feel seen, heard and understood by another person. This f

Having recently attended a wedding and experiencing an opportunity to witness and speak to a newly wedded couple as well as all the couples in attendance I had an opportunity to reflect on what makes lasting romantic pairings. As a provider of couples therapy as well as individual therapy that is often focused on relational issues, this is a particular area of interest. While traveling, I also spent some air travel time reading articles and reflecting about the topic of emoti

Online dating survival guide.

“It can’t all be sorrow, can it? I’ve always been alone, so I don’t feel the lack. It’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve never experienced loss because I’ve never had a loved one to lose. But what is grief, if not love persevering?”- “Previously On.” WandaVision, created by Jac Schaeffer, season 1, episode 8, Marvel Studios, 2021. I’ve always loved this quote and this probably won’t be the only time I use it in a blog post, especially since I write a lot about grief counseling. Thi

Natural therapeutic supports are the relationships and social activities that occur in our natural environments such as in the community,...