The Therapist Diaries

 Hello and welcome back to the Therapist Diaries,  In the last post we were discussing the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder- a depressive disorder that often impacts people most during the winter months. Today, I thought we’d go a step forward and talk about some real life, practical things we can do if someone we know is struggling with depression or generalized negative thoughts, no matter what time of year. Firstly, how do you recognize depressive symptoms if your loved one doesn’t tell you anything? Remember, even if you create a safe environment for people to share their struggles with you, no one is required to tell you anything about their mental health, that doesn’t mean you have to read minds to be helpful. Sometimes, the people we love the most are struggling quietly, without ever saying a word.  When depression creeps in, it can make even the simplest moments feel heavy, distant, and unfamiliar, it's important to know that depression  doesn’t alwa...

Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  Today I wanted to talk about F33.9 , more commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) . The seasons have shifted firmly from summer to autumn, and winter is just around the corner. While many people welcome this time of year with open arms for their love of pumpkin spice, cozy blankets, and holiday traditions, it’s also a time when many others begin to notice a subtle (or not-so-subtle) shift within themselves. As the days grow shorter and the air turns colder, it's common to feel changes not just in our environment, but in our mood, energy, and motivation. For some, this seasonal transition brings more than just a passing “winter slump.” It can trigger a very real and diagnosable condition: Seasonal Affective Disorder . SAD is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most commonly showing up in late fall or early winter and easing up in the spring and summer. While it might sound like it’s “just the winter blue...

  Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  In today’s wellness-focused world, it can be hard to keep track of all the different types of support available. Therapy, life coaching, mental health coaching, sure they all sound helpful, but what exactly sets them apart? Understanding the difference between mental health coaching and therapy is important, especially if you’re looking for the kind of support that best fits your current needs and goals. While both are rooted in a desire to help people live more fulfilling lives, they serve very different purposes and follow different approaches. Therapy , also known as counseling or psychotherapy, is a clinical service provided by licensed professionals such as LCSWs (In the USA), psychologists, or psychiatrists. It is grounded in evidence-based practices (which means it's tried and tested) and is designed to help people work through emotional pain, mental health diagnoses, and patterns that may stem from past experiences or...

 Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  For the final part in this series on what Fairytales can teach us about mindful living, we're turning to one of my favorite stories, the tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which in my opinion is one of the most underrated Fairytales out there. Every night, twelve royal sisters are locked in their room, and every morning their shoes are completely worn out, like they’ve been out partying until dawn. Their father, the king, is totally confused. No one knows where they’re going or how they’re getting out. Eventually, a quiet soldier figures out that the princesses have been sneaking out through a hidden door into a magical underground world where they dance until they can barely stand. It’s a fun mystery on the surface, but as a therapist, and particular in light of writing this four-part series, I'd like us to look a little deeper. This isn’t just a story about enchanted forests and secret passageways. It’s a story about exh...

Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  As Halloween sneaks ever closer I was thinking about the darker fairytales we have in our libraries. Y es, Grimms' Brothers, I’m calling you out! There’s a story I often return to, not so much for its darkness (though it has that too), but for its surprising depth. It's the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Yes, the Grimm brothers' eerie fairy tale of two children lost in the forest, lured by a house made of sweets, and forced to outwit a witch. At first glance, it's a survival story. But beneath it, there’s a profound metaphor for the mindfulness work I do every day, with clients and with myself. We are all, in some way, leaving breadcrumb trails in our lives; tiny efforts to feel safe, to remember who we are, or to find our way back when we feel lost. And like Hansel and Gretel, we don’t always know where we’re headed. Sometimes the forest is just that overwhelming. In therapy, clients often describe the “forest” as anxiet...

Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Dairies, In the last post I introduced the idea that in addition to warmth and nostalgia, Fairytales are filled with lessons on mental health and wellbeing, in particular, the idea of mindfulness.  Mindfulness is the ability to be present and fully engaged with the current moment, free from distraction or self-judgment. It involves actively observing and acknowledging your thoughts and feelings, neutrally, and maintaining awareness of surroundings and sensations. By focusing in on the present moment, we can help our bodies reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while also improving our overall well-being. It gives us the freedom to step out of "auto pilot mode" and become more positive in our responses to tough moments which in time, builds our overall mental resilience.  In this post, we’re going to step into the world of Cinderella, not just as a fairytale, but as a reflection of mindfulness in action. Beyond the b...

 Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  I recently found myself rewatching one of my favorite childhood TV shows -  Once Upon a Time . For those unfamiliar, it’s a modern-day retelling of classic fairy tales, where Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, and other beloved characters live double lives in a small town called Storybrooke, completely unaware of their magical origins. I've always loved the storytelling, the magic, and the drama, but watching it now, through the lens of a therapist and mindfulness practitioner, something deeper stood out. Fairy tales are more than whimsical stories for children; they are powerful mirrors of our inner self. At their core they are stories of transformation, much like the journey of healing. They’re filled with moments of struggle, uncertainty, and revelation, echoing the emotional landscape we navigate in therapy. And as surprising as it might sound, these age-old stories offer a powerful metaphor for mindfulness: the process of ...

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  We’ve all been there: you pour your time, energy, and heart into something, whether it’s a new job application, a relationship, a creative project, or even a personal goal, and despite your best efforts, it just doesn’t work out. The promotion goes to someone else. The relationship ends. The exam you studied for doesn’t go the way you hoped. It’s normal to feel disappointed, frustrated, or even defeated in these moments. Disappointment is a very human emotion, but it doesn’t have to define the way you move forward. Why Disappointment Hurts So Much When we invest in something, we’re not just investing time or effort, we’re also investing hope . Hope bridges the gap between despair and possibility, it keeps us tethered to the idea that things can improve, even in our darkest moments. It fuels resilience, giving meaning to struggle and endurance in the face of uncertainty. Hope is deeply personal, stirring powerful feelings of vulnerab...