Educational Blogs from Our Mental Health Therapists

Learn about common challenges, including depression, anxiety, relationships,
trauma, and more, written by Maryland therapists!

Depression, Grief and Loss, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner Depression, Grief and Loss, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner

What the Movie Beautiful Boy Teaches Us About Depression, Substance Use, and Healing – with Reflection Questions from a Baltimore Counseling Intern Inside

Oftentimes in life, we can struggle with ways to cope with stress, boredom, and the relationships around us. The 2018 film Beautiful Boy takes a look at the ways one person, Nic Sheff, used substances to cope with his boredom, as well as the effects his use had on his father, David. Inspired by a true story, the movie takes the chance to change the narrative around substance use and humanize those who face challenges from a substance use disorder. By looking at both the father and son, the ways this story is told helps re-conceptualize substance use and the cascading effects of it.

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How Lilo & Stitch Helps Us Understand Grief, Change, and Belonging — A Baltimore Counseling Intern’s Take

One of my favorite films of all-time is the 2002 animated classic Lilo & Stitch. I loved this movie as a kid and the more I rewatch it, the more I realize just how much the stories of both Lilo and Stitch are meaningful to my life and the lives of so many others. Throughout the course of the film, you get to follow their journey adjusting to their new lives, battling grief, and finding their place in the world. In this blog, I’ll be sharing some reflections from the movie and how the characters humanize mental health struggles, especially for kids.

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Intergenerational Trauma and Depression: A Counseling Intern’s Reflection of the Movie “A Real Pain” with Discussion Questions

Life keeps moving despite the pain we feel everyday. We try to find ways to ignore it and numb it, but pain fills our minds and won’t let go. The 2024 film A Real Pain recognizes this struggle and hones in on the ways different people experience pain. Throughout the film, you get glimpses of their mental health through discussions about depression, pain, and intergenerational trauma. I was struck by how real and vulnerable this film got, and how humanizing the mental health of these characters and their journeys felt.

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Resources, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner Resources, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner

What to Expect After Your Ketamine Dosing Session in Baltimore, MD

Completing your ketamine assisted psychotherapy session is only the beginning of your healing journey. The hours and days following treatment are just as important as the session itself. Many clients in Baltimore seeking ketamine therapy find that the integration period helps solidify the benefits of their experience. By creating a calm, supportive environment and being intentional with how you spend your time, you can maximize the positive effects of your ketamine treatment.

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Resources, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner Resources, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner

How to Prepare for Your Ketamine Dosing Session in Baltimore, MD

If you are considering ketamine therapy in Baltimore, Maryland, preparing properly can make your treatment more effective and meaningful. Being prepared can also help you feel more comfortable too, and that’s important! A ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) session is not a typical therapy appointment. It’s an intentionally curated space for healing, reflection, and growth that involves the use of a medication and a trained and attuned therapist. By following a few preparation steps, you can ensure that your body and mind are ready for the experience.

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Depression, Grief and Loss, Boundary Setting Melissa Wesner Depression, Grief and Loss, Boundary Setting Melissa Wesner

Navigating Change and Loneliness: A Baltimore Counseling Intern’s Reflections on The Banshees of Inisherin

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.

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What to Expect During Your Ketamine Dosing Session in Baltimore, MD

If you’re considering ketamine therapy in Baltimore, Maryland, it’s natural to feel curious about what to expect during a session. Below is a step-by-step overview of what your ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) session will look like, so you can approach it with confidence and peace of mind.

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Movies and Mental Health: Learning About Ourselves Through Watching Stories

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.

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Boundary Setting, Anxiety, Depression Melissa Wesner Boundary Setting, Anxiety, Depression Melissa Wesner

What to Do If You See Your Therapist Outside of Session

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.

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Thinking about Ketamine? Here’s How to Know if You Are Eligible for Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

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!

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How to Find a Baltimore Therapist the Modern Way: Tips for Finding a Therapist That’s a Good Fit Without the Overwhelm

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.

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Resources, Online Counseling, Depression, Anxiety Melissa Wesner Resources, Online Counseling, Depression, Anxiety Melissa Wesner

Feeling Overwhelmed? 5 Signs It’s Time to See a Therapist (Especially for Busy Adults in Maryland)

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just stressed. It’ll pass,” you’re not the only one! But sometimes, what we call “stress” is actually chronic overwhelm, and left unaddressed, it can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health. For many adults in Maryland, juggling work, family, and life’s curveballs, therapy offers a space to decompress, gain clarity, and reconnect with yourself.

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Faith-Based, Trauma and PTSD, Resources Melissa Wesner Faith-Based, Trauma and PTSD, Resources Melissa Wesner

Sacred Shifts: A Maryland Therapist's Journey of Deconstructing and Reconstructing Their Spiritual Beliefs

Deconstruction has recently become a buzzword for ex-evangelicals who have decided the church as it stands today goes against the basic principles taught by Jesus, to love your neighbor as yourself and to love God. Deconstruction is simply the act of getting rid of the harmful practices and beliefs we hold as truth and intentionally selecting practices that promote growth and healing. Believe me, it’s a lot easier said than done.

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Why Are Therapy Intensives So Expensive?

If you’ve been looking into therapy intensives, you’ve probably noticed that they come with a higher price tag than traditional therapy. Understandably, that might leave you wondering—why do they cost so much? And more importantly, are they worth the investment?

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Considering a Therapy Intensive? How to Decide Which Therapy Intensive Is Right for You

Therapy intensives are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. They offer a deep, focused approach to therapeutic growth that allows people to work through big emotions, life transitions, and unresolved trauma in a shorter period of time. But with so many different therapy intensives available, how do you know which one is the right fit for you?

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Why Are Therapy Intensives Becoming So Popular?

If you’ve been searching for therapy options in Maryland, you may have noticed something new.  More and more practices are offering therapy intensives. Whether it’s EMDR intensives, trauma-focused intensives, or Brainspotting intensives, these deep-dive therapy sessions are gaining traction fast. But why? What makes therapy intensives so popular, and more importantly, is a therapy intensive right for you?

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Resources, LGBTQIA, Biases, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner Resources, LGBTQIA, Biases, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner

Remaining Resilient Through Adversity as an LGBTQ+ Individual

With the current anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation from our current administration, LGBTQ+ people are being faced with a slew of issues, such as barriers to obtaining gender-affirming IDs, free speech bans, healthcare restrictions, and the dismantling of Civil Rights Laws. This is why we build resilience: so we can bounce back from these challenges and stand stronger than before. Here are some ways to build up resilience and seek out hope in the face of despair.

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When the World Feels Heavy: Finding Comfort and Showing Up as an Ally

With the inauguration last week, it’s important to check in with how we are feeling. It is often easier to ignore those feelings because facing them invites vulnerability, but when we take a moment to face the music, we realize the power we have in our voice. 

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Online Counseling, Resources, Burnout Melissa Wesner Online Counseling, Resources, Burnout Melissa Wesner

Therapy for Therapists in Maryland: Navigating Tough Times with Support

While some therapists see participating in therapy as a normal and necessary thing to do when working in this field, others may experience shame over needing to seek help themselves. That shame might come from a place of asking, “How am I going to help my clients if I can’t help myself? I should have it together!” However, one thing I have come to learn is EVERYONE needs to check in with their mental health, therapists included.

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When The Holiday Hurts

I remember growing up and being excited for holidays. My mom was always so careful to make sure my brother and I had everything we wanted, all carefully wrapped in perfect bows under the tree. Holidays growing up were a special time where we could come together as a family and share in the love, joy, hope  and peace the season brings. I look back fondly over the childhood memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but recently, I’ve noticed a crack in the rose colored glasses I’ve fought hard to protect. 

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