The Therapist Diaries

 Hello and Welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  There’s a quiet exhaustion that comes from constantly feeling like you’re one step away from being “found out.” You achieve something, land the job, finish the degree, launch the project, and instead of pride, you feel relief. Relief that no one has yet realized you’re not as capable as they think. Relief that you managed to pull it off this time. That’s imposter syndrome . Imposter syndrome is the persistent belief that your success is accidental, temporary, or undeserved. It’s the quiet narrative that you’ve somehow tricked everyone into overestimating you. And at its core is a deep, unrelenting fear of not being good enough. What makes it especially painful is that it doesn’t disappear with achievement. In fact, achievement often fuels it. One of the most difficult patterns I see in therapy is the shifting finish line. “I’ll feel confident when I lose 10 pounds.” “I’ll feel successful when I get promoted.” “I’ll feel worth...

Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  Starting something new is scary. Whether it’s a new job, a move to a different city, beginning therapy, or even something as simple (and not so simple) as forming a new habit, there’s a vulnerability that comes with stepping into the unknown. And as Ross from Friends once dramatically exclaimed, “Nobody likes change!” We laugh because it’s true. Change can feel like the rug being pulled out from under us, even when it’s a change we’ve chosen. But here’s the paradox: as much as we resist it, change is constant. Very little in our lives will stay the same and that’s not just a cliché; it’s a fact of being human. So, what do we do with the anxiety that creeps in when change is on the horizon, or is already here? First, we ground ourselves. This blog (and my therapy practice) is heavily focused on mindfulness and grounding so of course that's what I recommend first. Take a deep breath and take a moment to recognize whatever it is you...

Hello there!  Welcome to The Therapist Diaries , where we spill the tea (ethically, of course) on all things therapy. Today, let’s talk about something that’s been floating around in my head lately — the things I wish my clients knew before (and during) therapy. Not because you’re doing anything wrong (you’re not), but because if I could wave a magic wand and make therapy feel a little less intimidating and a lot more empowering, I totally would. Here’s what I’d say:  1. You don’t need to “have it all together” to start therapy. Actually, if you did have it all together, we’d just sit in silence making awkward eye contact. So many people think that therapy is something we do AFTER, and sometimes it can be- after a crisis, a shift in life, or emotional distress. But therapy is also for people who are CURRENTLY messy, confused, tired, overwhelmed, hopeful, heartbroken, healing — or all of the above. You don’t need to rehearse your “life story” before you walk in. You just ...