HOUSTON THERAPY

Wanting to look better is normal. Exercising, taking care of your skin, finding clothes that fit well, or getting a haircut you like can all be healthy forms of self-care. But there can be a point where improving your appearance stops being one part of your life and starts taking over your life. That distinction has become especially relevant with the rise of looksmaxxing, an online movement focused on maximizing physical attractiveness.

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

Crosswords hit a very special place in the way our minds like to work. They invite a balance of challenge and mastery. When the clue aligns with your knowledge and you place the correct word, you feel competent and capable. That feeling of competence is central to what psychologists call Self-Determination Theory. Self-Determination Theory, according to Ryan and Deci, is that people feel more motivated when they feel competent, autonomous, and connected.

Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person experiences conflicting thoughts or engages in behavior that contradicts their values.

Vulnerability is often the keystone of the human experience due to its relationship with empathy, intimacy, connection, and psychological we

Valentine's Day is upon us once again, and while this holiday can be a wonderful celebration of romance, for some it can stir up some unpleasant feelings. Valentine's Day is a holiday that can cause mixed feelings, especially for those who find themselves without a romantic partner. On one hand, it can bring out the love in people and make them feel good about themselves. On the other hand, Valentine's Day can remind people of loneliness, sadness, and heartbreak. For some Val

Often, we arrive to therapy with the quest to build a toolkit or a set of skills we can call upon to better manage our lives. Many...

As Gloria Loring once sang in the theme song for the hit TV show The Facts of Life, "You take the good, you take the bad, You take them...

Self-awareness is an important part of being a healthy, functional adult. The more aware we are of our needs, what motivates us, and how we are perceived, the better we can move through the world. However, according to Dr. Tasha Eurich, an organizational psychologist who studies how to improve leadership effectiveness, people who are attempting to be self-aware are asking themselves the wrong question. Often, when trying to understand ourselves, we ask why. What Eurich found

Anger is meaningful data. It’s a feeling that deserves our attention and curiosity as it can signal to us we are being hurt, our needs and wants aren’t being met, or we are being violated in some way. When used well, anger can propel us into action, empowering us to step into the position of being an agent of personal, relational or social change. Women have long been discouraged from the awareness and expression of anger. When women do express their anger they are more likel

People-pleasing is a need to make others find us likable. It places the emphasis of our relational encounters on what we imagine other people want, thus diminishing our own opinions and needs. It's linked to perfectionism as it’s a belief that in order to feel worthy and validated we need to please others. As you can imagine, wanting to please everyone all of the time is unrealistic and comes with great costs to our relationships and sense of self-worth. People pleasing is de

Imagine your childhood self - you’ve been through a year of structured and demanding classes, perhaps followed by a slew of extracurricular activities and homework in the afternoons and evenings. It’s been a long year, but finally, summer has arrived. It’s an intentional time set aside that encourages play and rest. It’s a time for renewal and recharging. You have unstructured time that gives space for you to become just bored enough to tap into your wonderfully creative imag

Houston is a pretty big city. Large enough to make the top 10 in the US! So it makes sense that it can be a little hard to navigate at times, even more so if you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle and trade it for a moment of relaxation and self care. Here are a few self care ideas worth a search in the Houston area: Parks Houston holds quite a few parks, ranging from those that regularly hold activities to those best suited for a nice walk through nature. Houst

You’ve probably already heard the suggestion of keeping a gratitude journal to improve your mental health. Science backs the idea- we are ha

When a creative is blocked, intense negative emotions may follow, leading to depression, anxiety, or behavioral acting out.

“To live a full and connected life in the face of difficulty and even tragedy requires the capacity to feel and make use of our emotional experience.” - Diana Fosha Feelings play a central part in the healing journey. However, I find many puzzled faces sitting across from me when I inquire about my patients’ emotional experiences. In many ways, our society has conditioned us to value our cognitive, rational minds and devalue our emotional minds. Many people feel a sense of p

In the spirit of the holidays and gift-giving, I’d like to explain why the gift of a generous interpretation is a wonderful gift to give to yourself and others all year round! Imagine this: Your partner announces to you that they have made dinner plans with friends this upcoming Saturday. You are crushed because that is your anniversary and it appears your partner is unaware that their plans mean you will not be spending quality time together. It makes sense that you are di

Creative people need to be creative to have good mental health. Relying too much on external validation can cause depression and anxiety.

Have you ever been told you need to be easier on yourself? Or that you hold yourself to impossible standards? Many of us do!

herapists create safe spaces by clearly establishing “ground rules” for your sessions. If you are confused about confidentiality, ask your therapist to clarify. Perhaps you are unsure why your therapist asks you certain types of questions; feel free to ask them how that benefits you and your therapy