Life always seems to pull us straight out of our comfort zone, plucking away the people and routines we feel are comfortable with. Whenever these transitions happen, the adjustment to a “new” life can be jarring. The 2022 film The Banshees of Inisherin takes a stark look at how three different men navigate difficult transitions in their lives.

In 2024, Pixar Animation Studios released a sequel to their 2015 hit film, Inside Out, which tackled themes of childhood emotions. Inside Out 2 expands on this world within a young girl’s head. Notably, Anxiety was included as one of the newly featured emotions, sparking many discussions about mental health among moviegoers. Whether you are someone who struggles with anxiety on a daily basis, knows someone who constantly faces anxiety, or are curious about how to manage those bouts of anxiety we all face, Inside Out 2 provides a strong and beautiful characterization of anxiety.

Struggling with your mental health can feel isolating. It can be hard to find any form of connection in a world that values perfection and idealism. However, thousands of people deal with mental health struggles every day and tell their stories to connect with those in a similar place. One medium that has provided a number of mental health stories is film. This blog will introduce a series of upcoming blogs that will be looking at different films that portray mental health, covering various concerns and analyzing the quality of their depiction.

Hopefully, you like your therapist. They know so much about you -- your likes and dislikes, family drama, friend gossip, problems in the sack, money woes, and more. They might be the only person who knows all of your problems. What happens if you see them out in public? What do you do if you see their personal social media page? In Baltimore, this is bound to happen because it is Smalltimore. Have no fear! The answer is here.

Finding a therapist can be tricky! There are different credentials, age ranges, locations, specialities, and training that therapists list on their profiles. Even being a therapist, it is often difficult sometimes to differentiate profiles! Anxiety can range from annoying to debilitating to one’s life, this level of uncertainty in not knowing who is the right fit or match can add another level to the therapist search. Here are some things I would consider when looking for a therapist!

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the legal, controlled use of ketamine in a safe, supportive setting to support emotional healing. While this is a powerful healing modality, it may not be a fit for everyone!

If you’re thinking of starting therapy for the first time, you might know how to get started or what to expect.  At LifeSpring Counseling Services, we understand these concerns and have created the Starting Therapy podcast series to provide clarity and support. While we have lots of content on our website, we also wanted to make our content available in audio form.  Here’s a summary of this private, mini podcast series and the content you can expect to find.

Looking for a therapist in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland? If you’ve never searched for a therapist before, you might not be sure where to begin. In fact, the process can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if this is your first time seeking therapy services. Whether you’re searching for someone who “gets it,” hoping to work with a therapist who shares your background, or just trying to figure out where to start, there are more resources than ever to help you find the right fit.

For many adults in Maryland, the idea of starting therapy sounds great in theory, but the reality of carving out time for sessions feels overwhelming. Between work responsibilities, parenting, caregiving, and simply keeping up with life, therapy often lands at the bottom of the to-do list.

At LifeSpring Counseling Services, we work with a lot of busy professionals, parents, college students, and caregivers. Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I know I need support, but I don’t know when I’d even fit therapy in.” If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Here’s the good news! People are making therapy work, often in creative, flexible ways that fit into their real lives.

You might be holding it all together at work, at home, with friends, but still feel like something’s off. For many adult men in Maryland, stress, burnout, and emotional struggle go unspoken. Whether you’re in Towson, Silver Spring, or Baltimore, therapy offers a confidential space to release some of the pressure and reconnect with yourself.

Grief can often be described as a natural experience associated with the feelings and behaviors that exist after a death. This experience can extend to other hard, tough life events too, however. Events like the end of relationships, change of jobs, relocations, retirement, kids moving out of the home, end of an event, a health diagnosis, medical procedure, a natural disaster, a global pandemic, or an oppressive system can shake up someone’s life.

When it comes to therapy, many people conclude that using insurance is the way to go or that all mental health providers accept health insurance. But did you know that many individuals–right here in Baltimore and across Maryland—choose to invest in private pay therapy instead? While insurance can be a helpful tool for accessing mental health care, it also comes with limitations that don’t work for everyone.

When you call our office, Sarah is the first person that you're going to talk to. If you send us an email, she is the person who's going to answer you. We also want to say that Sarah is someone who gets tons of compliments! We hear a lot of feedback from clients who are just so impressed with how she takes care of them and how she makes them feel comfortable when they call our office.

When an athlete steps out onto the competition stage and the rush of adrenaline kicks in, they aren’t usually thinking about playing cautiously or with hesitation for fear of injury. Imagine a goalkeeper thinking, “I’m only going to try to save the shots that I can reach,” or a gymnast saying, “I don’t want to attempt that skill, it’s a little too risky.” It is normal to have nerves on the field, but how do we manage those emotions if they show up in competition?

Many older adults struggle with feelings of loneliness and isolation and are unsure how to take the first step towards connection. But what if it doesn’t have to be like this? Yes, aging brings changes, and it also brings opportunities to rebuild, connect, and find happiness. Regardless of your age or abilities, building hope, practicing healthy habits, and connecting with your community are ways to feel supported as you age. Here are some ways that you can foster support and connection as you move through life transitions.

A notification pops up on your phone reminding you about practice tonight and all of a sudden, you feel a pit in your stomach and dread building in your chest.  You begin running through believable excuses for why you can’t go to practice and decide to text your coach that you won’t be attending tonight. Sure, maybe you feel briefly relieved, but then a wave of guilt arrives and you are confused why a sport that used to bring you so much joy now feels like a heavy burden of anxiety and stress.

The last past two weeks (or even months) for federal workers have been exhausting, fearful, confusing, and uncertain. With many executive orders filing in, there is a cloud of mystery and unknown with what is going to happen to all aspects of life in the coming days, weeks, and even years.

Moving to a new city? Have a recent break up? Have a new job? All of these life changes can have an impact on friendships as an adult. A common goal is making and keeping meaningful relationships. As children, teens, and even young adults, there can be a pool of possible friendships readily available! As an adult, however, it can feel harder to connect and find people with the same values, ideals, and even humor. Here are some ideas on how to connect with others in the Baltimore community. 

If you clicked on this article, there’s a chance that means you’re in a relationship, and that you’re starting to think about the long term view of where you’d like things to go. Perhaps you’re discussing engagement with your partner. As a licensed mental health therapist who’s seen firsthand what can happen when couples jump the gun, I believe marriage is certainly not something to be taken lightly, or on a whim. Hopefully, these questions will give you and your partner a good start at taking a look at some of the bigger picture questions before approaching the conversation of engagement. 

Perhaps you’re discussing engagement with your partner. If so, congratulations! Moving forward in relationships is an exciting endeavor - and one I’m a personal fan of. However, as a licensed mental health therapist who’s seen firsthand what can happen when couples jump the gun, I believe marriage is certainly not something to be taken lightly, or on a whim. Hopefully, these questions will give you and your partner a good start at taking a look at some of the bigger picture questions before approaching the conversation of engagement.