The Therapist Diaries

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  It's all over the new recently, AI is taking over! As many are concerned over its usage and the future impacts on the job market, those of us in healthcare roles are also concerned about the society's growing dependence on it, and if it does more harm than good when it comes to mental and physical wellbeing.  If you've found yourself asking ChatGPT about anxiety, relationship problems, stress at work, or whether your childhood experiences may still be affecting you today, you're certainly not alone. Over the past few years, artificial intelligence has become an increasingly common source of information, guidance, and emotional support for millions of people. As a therapist, I've noticed a growing number of clients arriving in sessions after having lengthy conversations with AI about their mental health. Some use it to process emotions, others use it to journal, and many turn to it during moments when they feel overwh...

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  People that know me know that technology is not my best friend. I am definitely a paper and pen kind of girl, however as a therapist working with teens and young adults, I am a big believer that mental health support doesn’t only happen in the therapy room. While apps will never replace therapy, the right ones can be powerful tools that help you build skills, stay grounded, and feel supported between sessions. Below are five mental health apps I often recommend to clients. Each one serves a slightly different purpose, so think of these as options, not “shoulds.” As I always say, take what serves you, leave what doesn’t. Headspace – For building a meditation habit that actually feels doable What it is: Headspace is a guided meditation and mindfulness app designed to make meditation approachable, even if you’ve never done it before. Why I recommend it: Clients often tell me they want to meditate and feel grounded but feel overwhelm...

  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...