Can you imagine feeling trapped in a social situation where you are so frightened of being watched or judged by others that you freeze up? Diagnosing social anxiety disorder (SAD) can be initially challenging because it seems to share symptoms with shyness. SAD is a mental disorder characterized by unrealistic fear of humiliation, embarrassment and […]
The transition period from adolescence to early adulthood occurs between the late teens and early 20’s, approximately between ages 18-25. Critical developmental tasks for young adults at this time may include detaching from physical and emotional dependency on parents, establishing financial independence, entering college, and becoming a romantic partner. It is widely believed that the […]
As a couples therapist in San Francisco, I work with many people who are products of the information age, and many of them ask me for simple tips for creating an environment that balances the technology and work in their lives. This is what I tell them. Helpful lifestyle tweaks and rituals Feng Shui your […]
By Robin Levick, MFT Guided imagery meditation can be a helpful tool for stress reduction. The imagination is a powerful thing, and by immersing yourself in an embodied imagining of a place that is soothing or calming to you, you can calm and sooth your body and mind. While it is often something that you listen to, […]
Many people date with the intention of entering a long-term relationship. However, that’s not the only way to approach dating. It’s completely possible, and may even be preferable, to embrace short-term dating. Short-term dating can offer many benefits. That said, if you’re not used to this dating approach, it can confuse you a little bit. […]
I absolutely love Well Clinic! From the beginning, my husband and I felt like we were in a comfortable and safe space. Our couple’s therapy bridged gaps in our relationship and helped us understand each other that much more. Ivette B Well Clinic is an oasis, especially for busy professionals like me. It’s a relaxing […]
By Anna Koops, MFT – In this new year, maybe you’ve decided to look for a therapist. This is not a simple task. There are many different types of therapy with confusing names and acronyms (CBT, AEDP, EFT, DBT, psychodynamic, Gestalt, etc.), and, in the Bay Area alone, hundreds of practitioners of each type. Therapy […]
Creative arts group therapy for the QTBIPOC community during Coronavirus The creative arts can be a powerful tool in releasing and transforming COVID-19 related stress. Pandemic Healing & Play is a 7-session online therapy group for members of the QTBIPOC (queer, trans, black, indigenous, and other people of color) community. Each session, we draw from […]
And as a result, many have been significantly impacted by being laid off from work. This job loss can feel very unsettling on top of already uncertain and chaotic times. If you are struggling with being laid off in light of COVID-19, here are 7 reminders to help you cope with your loss: #1 You […]
I should start by confessing that this summer I caught up on HBO’s Ballers (only because a senator recommended it), a show starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In it, Johnson’s character Spencer Strasmore, a rough, tough, impenetrable retired pro football player, darts from his doctor’s office at the mention of the word “psychologist.” This is […]
The coronavirus pandemic has altered our daily routines. And, naturally, with the introduction to a life stressor, we do our best to adapt to the change. Sometimes, the ways in which we are coping can inadvertently impact our sleep! Are you having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or are you waking up earlier than anticipated? […]
By Robyn Alagona Cutler, MFT – “One week in the bed, one week on the bed and one week around the bed” were the directions I was encouraged to follow on the advice of my birth doula, while making preparations to arrive home with my new baby. This was the first time I had heard […]
Years ago I did an internship that offered therapist-facilitated guided imagery to hospital patients in San Francisco. Many of my friends and colleagues were surprised to hear that a hospital had agreed to fund such an “alternative” program. The funding was possible simply because the hospital discovered that their patients’ hospital stays were shorter when […]
We all know the thing that should eventually happen after we eat, right? Poop! Because what goes in, must come out; otherwise problems start to occur. This process holds true for each and every living organism on earth. It also applies to our mental health, now more than ever. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is […]