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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

Like many Evangelical teens growing up in the 90s, I was told my body was a temple and that we were all born inherently evil. I was told to cover up and dress in modest clothing to protect the minds of boys and men and that marriage was solely meant for one man and one woman. We were the gatekeepers for boys and men in the church. If they started having impure thoughts about us, it was our fault. Throughout my research, I continue to see similar stories and lived experiences to my own. I see myself in all of the stories shared by women across the US and the world who were victims of purity culture. 

Emma Cieslik describes purity culture as “...a systemic set of ideologies enforced by religious communities through educational programming and events that place the brunt of sexual responsibility on young men and women” (2022). Both men and women are taught to suppress sexual urges starting at young ages. Purity culture is not gender specific. Both lead to warped beliefs that continue to impact how both men and women view relationships, marriage and sex.

Have you ever heard of a runner’s high? If you have, you might imagine runners feeling extra great after a tough run or wonder how on Earth someone could feel good while running. 

One aspect that I have found particularly helpful in managing anxiety, processing trauma, and relaxing is the bilateral stimulation that the movement of running and walking can provide. 

We can always tell something important has appeared when something bothers us. When something bothers us, it usually indicates that a value is being brought up, challenged, or tampered with. That is because as much as values help us find joy and meaning, values can also help us find pain and difficulty. If something weren’t a value, we wouldn’t care. So, the fact that you care is a good thing. It may not feel great now, but in one way or another, it will pay off differently.

It can be difficult to feel compassion for yourself or a loved one with a BPD diagnosis, especially if you experience its ups and downs or its social impact. However, holding compassion for the diagnosis and the person living with it can be a powerful way of reclaiming the power of one’s emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and sense of self. 

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has become a more heavily discussed mental illness diagnosis in recent years due to more exposure in the media. Its increased discussion, however, has also brought more misinformation about a complex and misunderstood diagnosis. 

Working in fields such as healthcare, social work, or emergency response often exposes professionals to the raw realities of trauma. While their focus is on providing support and care to those directly affected, the toll of bearing witness to suffering can manifest in the caregivers themselves. Here are ten practical tips for professionals navigating the complexities of secondhand trauma. 

Secondary trauma, otherwise known as vicarious trauma and second-hand PTSD, refers to a form of distress or trauma that's experienced indirectly by hearing details of or witnessing the aftermath of a traumatic experience by another person. Second hand trauma may be invisible, but its impact is real and far-reaching. 

Navigating the aftermath of sexual assault can be a daunting journey, laden with complex emotions and challenges. Yet, within the therapeutic setting, there exists a powerful toolkit designed to guide survivors toward healing and empowerment. Through a combination of compassionate support and evidence-based techniques, therapists play a pivotal role in helping survivors cope with the aftermath of trauma. 

Sexual assault is a harrowing experience that leaves deep emotional scars on its survivors. Among the myriad of emotions they grapple with, shame stands out as one of the most pervasive and debilitating. Shame, with its roots in societal perceptions and self-blame, adds layers of complexity to the already daunting process of recovery for survivors. 

In the often tumultuous aftermath of sexual assault, survivors grapple with a myriad of emotions, legal complexities, and societal stigmatization. However, amidst this turmoil, sexual assault advocates emerge as beacons of hope and support, offering guidance, empowerment, and unwavering compassion to those in need.

Marylanders woke up to the devastating news about the Key Bridge collapsing into the Patapsco River in Baltimore, MD this morning. This tragic event will have ripples of impact for some time to come.  If you live or work in the Greater Baltimore area, and you’ve been impacted directly or indirectly by today’s news, here are some strategies that you can use to cope and tend to your mental health.