The Therapist Diaries

 Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  Last week I had one of those low days that seemed to arrive without warning. I woke up feeling heavy, flat, and quietly disappointed in myself. I felt behind in my progress. I felt defeated in my ongoing relationship with Type One Diabetes. I felt lonely while the people I love were busy with their own plans, and irrationally envious of people socializing, even though I didn’t actually want to see anyone. All I wanted to do was stay in bed and cry. And the fact that I wanted to do that made me feel even worse about myself.  How did I handle it? As a clinician, I’d love to tell you I immediately booked an extra therapy session, journaled for 45 minutes, did breathwork, and cognitively reframed my distortions. But this blog is all about being honest about our mental health with ourselves and others, so... the truth? I stayed in my pajamas and watched childhood comfort films back-to-back: Barbie as The Princess and the Paupe...

 Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries,  Has anyone else had an incredibly busy start to 2026... or is it just me?  This year came in fast . One minute it was January 1st, and the next I was rushing from one commitment to the next, living on half-finished to-do lists and Starbucks runs. The peace and harmony I felt at Christmas quickly vanished. This week especially, I’ve felt completely rushed off my feet, mentally, emotionally, and logistically. And yet… it was all worth it. Because in the middle of the chaos, I passed my LCSW exam. To those who don't know the therapy abbreviations for everything (believe me, there's a lot,) becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker opposed to a Licensed Master of Social Work, means I’ve met advanced clinical training and supervision requirements and can now practice independently. It deepens the work I do, expands how I can support clients, and reflects years of learning, growth, mistakes, resilience, and showing up eve...

  Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  It’s been a while since we’ve connected so how are you? I hope you enjoyed the holidays and were able to spend the time focusing on you and what matters most. The holidays often come with disrupted schedules, later nights, more stimulation, and a different pace of life, and when it all suddenly ends, our bodies are left trying to catch up. Even when we’re ready mentally to “get back to it,” our nervous systems may still be adjusting. I know this is something I’ve been struggling with this week. So today, we’re talking about routines and how to get back into the swing of things.  I’ve been watching the Taylor Swift documentary,End of an Era, and one detail really stood out to me. After every show, Taylor follows a very intentional routine designed to calm her body down after hours of adrenaline, lights, noise, and performance. That routine helps her nervous system shift out of high-alert mode and into a state where she ca...

Hello, and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries!  Raise your hand if you’ve ever clicked “play” on a show you’ve already seen a million times. Yup, you’re not alone! Even with hundreds of new shows dropping every week, there’s something about those old favorites that keeps pulling us back in. But what’s the deal with rewatching? Is it just boredom, or is there something deeper going on? Spoiler alert: It’s actually pretty fascinating. Let’s dive into the psychology behind why we can’t stop hitting “replay” on the shows we love. Predictability Feels Like a Warm Hug Life can be crazy and unpredictable, right? Work stress, family drama, or just the everyday chaos can leave us feeling overwhelmed. So, when we rewatch a show we know inside out, it’s like wrapping ourselves in a cozy blanket. You already know what’s coming—no surprises, no cliffhangers. It’s comforting and calming, like a little pocket of peace in a hectic world. Your brain loves that predictability, and honestly, so d...

 Hello and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries!  This week has been a lot . Between work deadlines, unexpected errands, and the general chaos of life, my usual self-care routines have pretty much gone out the window. I found myself feeling scattered, irritable, and completely drained by the end of each day—but with zero time (or energy) for anything that felt like a real reset. So I started thinking: What can I actually do in five minutes?  Something that’s truly beneficial for my mental health, doesn’t feel like another task , and can fit into even the busiest day. That’s how I came up with this simple, five-step mental health routine. It takes just five minutes total, can be done almost anywhere, and has honestly helped me feel a little more centered in the middle of the mess. If your week’s been hectic too, this might be exactly what you need. Breathe with Intention (1 Minute) Start with one full minute of deep, intentional breathing. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for...