When it comes to seeking therapy, understanding the differences between licensed and unlicensed therapists is crucial. Whether you're looking for mental health counseling, support for specific mental health conditions, or family therapy, it's essential to know the options available to you. In this article, we'll explore the distinctions between licensed and unlicensed therapists and why finding the right fit matters for your mental health journey. Licensed therapists have completed extensive training, obtained a state-issued license, and met the ethical guidelines set by state licensing board ..read more

Written by Jonathan TranPham As the founder of reflect and a proud gay man, I want to wish you a happy Pride. The Month of Pride is a time of celebration, reflection, and progress. Our community has seen significant wins in recent years, from the advancement of LGBTQIA+ rights to increased visibility and acceptance. These victories have brought us closer to a world where every individual can love and express themselves freely. Sadly, it is disheartening to see that despite the amazing progress we’ve made, it can sometimes feel like we are taking steps backward, especially with the recent back ..read more

May is a significant month as we continue to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and also honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Month). Over the past two weeks, we have explored the ,importance of self-love and ,improving our surroundings. This week, we wanted to talk through a topic within mental health that affects many Asian American families, among others. The recent Oscar sweep of "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was an emotional moment for many Asian Americans, not just because of the historical wins for Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan but also because of t ..read more

As we continue to shed light on mental health this month, let's shift our focus to Mental Health America's theme for this year: ,Look Around, Look Within. This theme invites us to consider every part of our environment and its effect on our mental health and well-being during Mental Health Month. Last week, we discussed the ,importance of self-co,mpassion and recognizing our strengths as part of NAMI's Mental Health Awareness Month campaign. This week, let's take action to improve our surroundings and promote better mental health for ourselves and those around us. Here are some ways you can d ..read more

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and as part of reflect's mission to destigmatize mental health, we wanted to share weekly articles relevant to the topic of mental health to get the conversation started. This week's article will focus on this year's theme by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, "More Than Enough." This theme reminds us that we all have inherent value and worth, regardless of our achievements, appearance, or other external factors. In a world that often tells us we need to be more, do more, and have more, it's important to remember that we are already enough, just as w ..read more

While starting a private practice for mental health can be exciting, for many it is also a daunting process. At reflect, we work with many new private practice therapists. Some common feedback that we receive is that while schools are great at equipping you with the tools you need to practice therapy, they are sometimes lacking in teaching you about the business elements of a private practice. Not to worry, we got you covered! In this article, we will help explain everything you need to know about starting your own private practice so that you can feel confident moving forward. What is a priv ..read more

The warm summer months can be a great chance for unwinding, taking vacations and catching sunshine, but for some, summer can actually end up causing more stress instead. Expectations of being care-free can put a lot of strain on those who are struggling with their mental health. And for parents, the added complexity of navigating the summer with kids out of school can add to the stress. Summer weather can also tire out our bodies easily, as extended periods in heat and sun can cause lethargy, lack of appetite, dehydration and sleeplessness, all of which can lead to more anxiety. In fact, a st ..read more

We get it. Therapy can be really expensive, with some therapists even charging upwards of $200 per session. There are a lot of things you can do with that kind of money. Price aside, it can also be really difficult and time consuming to find a good therapist, and that is before you consider the pains of dealing with the insurance process if you decide to go down that route. It's very normal to be hesitant of trying therapy when you think about the costs and time commitment involved with therapy. This is often complicated by the fact that the value of therapy is often intangible. Can I afford ..read more

According to a recent scientific brief released by the World Health Organization, the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide increased significantly by 25% from the Covid-19 pandemic. This has resulted in an increased demand for therapy and other mental health services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, because in-person therapy was no longer a viable option, online therapy, also known as virtual or tele-therapy, started to gain popularity. Since then, tele-therapy remains a very popular option of mental health care because of it's convenience for individuals and mental health professiona ..read more

Every month of June, we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual plus (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. This month is dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQIA+ voices, celebration of queer culture, ending of stigma and support for equal rights in America and around the world. For members of our team who identify as LGBTQIA+, this is a particularly important month. After two years of being in a pandemic, many of us are extremely excited to see that Pride events are finally back, such as the annual Pride parade in San Franc ..read more