By Sydney Fuller, college intern, and Dr. Divya Babbar College life is often portrayed as a time of excitement, self-discovery, and freedom. However, the reality for many college students includes overwhelming stress, academic pressures, social challenges, and mental health struggles. While therapy is commonly associated with seeking support during the academic year, we often overlook the importance of therapy during breaks and summers. Prioritizing mental health care is essential for our overall well-being. Let’s explore the significance of continuing therapy during breaks and summers, and i ..read more

By Liat Mayer Weisleder and Dr. Divya Babbar Procrastination is a common hurdle that many – if not all – of us face in our daily lives. Whether it’s putting off tasks at work, delaying household chores, or postponing personal projects – the tendency to procrastinate can hinder productivity and create stress. Thus, understanding the root of procrastination and implementing effective strategies can enable us to break free from its grip and achieve greater efficiency and fulfillment. Why Do We Procrastinate? Procrastination can stem from a variety of underlying reasons, including: Fear of Failu ..read more

By Dr. Divya Babbar “Are you sure you want to wear that? You look kind of big in it and not that attractive.” “You think you’re so smart, but you would be nothing without me. You should feel lucky that I even give you the time of day. Everybody told me that I shouldn’t pay attention to you, but I still do.” “I’m not the problem. You’re just always whining and so needy. If you weren’t so emotional, we wouldn’t have this many arguments.”  “Why do you chew like that? It’s gross.”  “I just can’t believe you’re bringing this up right now. You know how stressed I’ve been at work. I can’t ..read more

By Emma Sacks, college intern, and Dr. Divya Babbar “She’s so OCD.” “They’re totally bipolar!” “Sorry, I’m just so ADHD right now.” Have you heard someone say phrases like these? Have you said one of them yourself? We turn diagnoses to adjectives in everyday communication without full consideration of what these words and acronyms mean. When we call someone manic, or obsessive, or schizoid, or even when we claim to be having a panic attack, we are using formal diagnostic language as adjectives –– which can undermine the experience of those who is coping with a mental health condition. Turning ..read more

By Pavani Khera, PsyD Embarking on the journey of therapy is a courageous step, demanding the strength to confront challenging emotions and experiences, often with a stranger. Yet, the decision to seek therapy is just the beginning; finding the right therapist to accompany you on this transformative journey can be a daunting process, especially for those new to the experience. In my role as a psychologist, I’ve encountered clients with varying degrees of certainty about their therapeutic goals. Some individuals enter therapy with clear objectives, whether it be resolving conflicts at work or d ..read more

Self-care and sensory gifts for adults and children can include items like soothing aromatherapy kits, tactile puzzles, comfortable weighted blankets, and engaging sound machines, each tailored to provide a calming and enriching experience for the senses. Please enjoy this list of fun gift ideas for the Holidays. Sofa Sak – a simple and soft individual bean bag chair without beans and instead memory foam for maximum comfort and safety. Sensory Bin – includes fun glow in the dark stars, space rocks squishy aliens and more to meet any kiddos sensory and space needs! (also comes in different ..read more

By Julie Kirtz, LICSW Our relationship with work can be an emotional rollercoaster. After all, self-worth is often viewed through the lens of professional identity. It’s one reason why burnout can be so painful. The pandemic brought that home for many of us. Americans now want their employers to make the mental health of their employees a priority. Indeed, the American Psychological Association 2023 Work in America Survey confirms that psychological well-being is a high priority for workers. Specifically, an overwhelming majority (92%) of workers said it is very (57%) or somewhat (3 ..read more

By: Stephen Dillon-Streisel, college intern, and Dr. Divya Babbar Frequently, articles and research focus on queer children or neurodivergent children, but the duality of being both queer and neurodivergent is rarely considered. When cultivating safe spaces for children, it is most important that we affirm their identity and choices and allow them a space for “neuroqueering” (Walker et al., 2015) The act of neuroqueering is the liberation of oneself from socially imposed neuro-normativity and heteronormativity. While neuroqueer is a verb, it can also be an aspect of one’s identity. Gender-div ..read more

By Dr. Divya Babbar Ever had a disagreement that left you so hurt and angry that all you wanted to do was run away from the person causing the hurt and anger? If you’re nodding along – you’re certainly not the only one who has been in this boat. Wanting to take a break from the person causing us hurt is normal and can even be a protective instinct. But when does taking space become hurtful and transition into the silent treatment? Let’s take a look. At times, we all need some space in our relationships –– which can feel like an urgent need during or after an argument. Asking for and taking sp ..read more

Have you ever wondered if group therapy is the right path for you? It is a common question that many folks have. You might be pondering whether there’s enough space to share your thoughts, if you’ll feel comfortable discussing your mental health in a group setting, or if the therapist will provide the support you need. Let’s start by acknowledging that group therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Its suitability depends on the specific issues you want to address in therapy and your readiness to embrace the group therapy experience. In this blog post, we aim to provide answers to the most ..read more