Perfectionism can look like ambition, discipline, and drive. But it can also feel like living under a never-ending report card—where every project, grade, performance review, and even appearance is scored, judged, and never quite “enough.” Psychology writers often describe perfectionism as a trait that can be motivating in healthy doses, yet deeply distressing when it […]
When we experience something overwhelming, our nervous system responds to protect us, through fight, flight, freeze or fawn. This is a completely natural survival response. The difficulty is that long after the event has passed, the nervous system can remain stuck in that protective state. Your body is still responding as though the threat […]
What Is Trauma and How Does It Affect You? Trauma isn’t just about what happened. It’s about what happens inside you as a result. Many people who come to therapy don’t initially identify as having experienced trauma. They know something difficult happened, but they’re not sure if it “counts.” They just know that something feels […]
Anxiety can make even ordinary days feel overwhelming. You might find yourself overthinking, expecting the worst, struggling to sleep, feeling constantly on edge, or carrying a tension that never seems to leave your body. It can be exhausting. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Anxiety isn’t a sign that you’re weak or “too sensitive.” […]
Choosing a Particular Trauma Relief Therapy If your life was disrupted by an unexpected experience and you cannot stop the cycles of self-doubt, sorrow or frustration, help is available in many forms. Anxiety, trauma, PTSD and complex trauma can be cured. Receiving compassionate and effective help after a life shock is very important. However, Choosing […]
I wish I knew about the 7 types of rest when I started my career. When I experienced burnout as a case manager and child and youth worker, I kept coming home and zoning out on the couch, too depleted to do anything else. Even after a full night’s sleep, I still felt exhausted. My […]
Why High-Functioning Anxiety Is So Hard to Recognize (Especially in High Achievers) Published July 7, 2026 Austin, TX Written By: Rachel Cooper, MS, LPC Associate Supervised by Dr. Amber Quaranta Leech, LPC-S On the surface, things look like they’re going well for you. You meet deadlines, perform well at work, take […]
Early in my career, I didn’t question the weight I sometimes carried home after sessions. I’d notice a tiredness that wasn’t just physical but I didn’t have a framework for understanding it. I thought that was just part of being in this work. Over time, I’ve come to understand vicarious trauma less as something sudden, […]
Are you feeling heart-ached, broken and full of sorrow over communication? The good news is this is probably much easier to solve than it feels! By utilizing the following practices first with a loved one, second with yourself, and third (if you like) with God, you will become happier, grateful and relieved pretty quickly! Anyone […]
Signs You May Be Experiencing Vicarious Trauma You work with people carrying heavy stories. But are you carrying them too? Vicarious trauma happens when you absorb the trauma of the people you serve. If you’re a caseworker, social worker, nurse, or frontline worker, this might feel familiar: Common signs: -Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected -Hypervigilance: […]
