Written by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT

Written by: Melena Postolowski, MA

I regularly meet with concerned parents who wonder whether or not their adolescent is “normal.” We review concerns such as mood fluctuations, sleeping in late and engaging in risk-taking or more “defiant” behavior. Without taking away from the difficulties parents are having with these changes, I do get to reassure them that, in many cases, these are expected behaviors for teenagers.  Understanding what is going on in the teenage brain in addition to reviewing the developmental tasks teenagers face can help in understanding this behavior with more empathy.

Written by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT

If you've found yourself stuck in negative thinking, I’m sure you’ve tried to think more positively. I’m also sure at least one friend, loved one, or maybe even your therapist, has advised you to do the same. But, it seems no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get your thinking to switch gears. If this sounds like you, or you are simply curious enough to read on, I want to talk to you about how to break through that barrier.

First, here comes your dose of validation. All humans have negative thoughts in their head about themselves, about others, about situations and circumstances. This is normal. It is also a mental prison with very thick bars!
 
So what can you do to free yourself all Shawshank style?! I thought you’d never ask.

Written by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT

​...Mental health meds, to be precise. ​I find there is still so much stigma around mental health medications. Often, clients will arrive to my office and one of the first things they will say is they don’t want to take medication. So, let’s clear some things up.

Written by: Melena Postolowski, MA

Anxiety can exist both in our heads and in our bodies.

We may notice that our brains ‘jump to conclusions’ and think of the worst possible outcome in situations or worry about things we have no control over.

It’s helpful to pause and pay attention to our thoughts to determine whether or not they are something worth listening to. Of course, there are plenty of things worthy of worry right now, but if you’re noticing yourself worrying about things you cannot control, or always assuming the worst, here are some basic practices that may offer help.

Written by: Maritza Barrera, LMFT

Are you living with guilt? Understanding one simple fact can change your life. Guilt can be a very debilitating emotion. Unfortunately, some of us suffer with this feeling daily. If you are living with plaguing feelings of guilt, remind yourself of one thing...if you could have done something differently, you would have.