Creative Counseling

As 2026 begins, many people feel pressure to set bold New Year’s resolutions— be happier, be calmer, be better . The new year often arrives with an unspoken demand for transformation. But in counseling, we see something different: lasting mental health change rarely comes from grand promises. It comes from small, compassionate shifts made consistently over time. Rather than approaching the new year as a reset button, we invite you to see it as a check-in. Why Traditional New

From a clinical standpoint, seasonal depression during the holidays is rarely just about the season itself. While reduced daylight, colder weather, and disrupted routines can impact mood and energy, what often brings people into counseling during this time is the emotional weight the holidays carry. The holiday season tends to activate memory, meaning, and expectation all at once. For many individuals, it highlights losses—of people, roles, routines, or identities—that may h

Turning 50 in East Africa wasn’t simply a milestone—it was a lived experience of transition. Many clients come to therapy during moments when something familiar no longer fits: a role, a relationship, a career identity, or even the version of themselves they’ve relied on for years. These transitions don’t always arrive with clarity. More often, they show up as restlessness, exhaustion, or a quiet sense of disconnection. At 50, I felt that same crossroads—not as a crisis, but

There’s something powerful about turning 50.Not dramatic, not “life is half over” energy — but the kind of grounded confidence that says: I’ve lived enough life to know what I want, what I don’t, and I’m not apologizing for either. Add in the fact that the semester is finally ending (thank God), and the countdown to a well-earned birthday trip is officially on… and honestly, this whole season feels like a mental reset wrapped inside a celebration. ✨ The Beauty of the Hard Res

Thanksgiving has officially wrapped, and before we sprint into the rest of the holiday marathon, it’s worth pausing to honor something important: the boundaries you kept, the coping skills you used, and the emotional energy you protected. Because whether your Thanksgiving looked peaceful, chaotic, awkward, joyful, or all of the above in a three-hour window — you got through it with intention. And that matters. 🧡 A Quiet Holiday Victory: You Protected Your Peace Thanksgiving

The holiday season comes with sparkly lights, full calendars, and—for many people—a quiet sense of dread underneath all that glitter. Between family expectations, financial pressures, complicated relationships, and the emotional weight of “trying to keep everyone happy,” this time of year can feel less like a celebration and more like an obstacle course. But here’s the truth: you are allowed to protect your peace.And the way you do that is through boundaries. Not aggressive w

If you’ve ever thought that parenting would magically get easier once your kids became adults… surprise! It doesn’t. The job description simply changes, often in ways that catch us off guard. This past week with my own adult kids reminded me of just how complicated, emotional, and downright exhausting this stage can be — even when you love them with everything you’ve got. Parenting adult children isn’t about permission slips or bedtime routines anymore. It’s about giving advi

As we head into the end of the fall semester, I’ll be honest: I’m excited. Not just because due dates and discussion boards are wrapping up, but because this time of year offers something we don’t always give ourselves permission to take—a deep breath. If you’re a student, a parent, a professional (or all three at once), you’ve probably been running on “go” for months. Fall can feel like a marathon of responsibilities: classes, work, family, schedules, unexpected crises, and

Have you ever noticed that a part of you feels confident and capable while another part feels scared or unsure? Or that one part wants to forgive, but another part can’t let go? Those contradictions inside us aren’t flaws—they’re parts of who we are. And in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, those parts have a voice, a story, and a purpose. IFS, developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, is based on a simple yet profound idea: we are not one single, fixed identity. Instead, we ar

It happens slowly—first the sun dips below the horizon a little earlier, then the mornings greet us with that unmistakable chill. Before long, we’re reaching for heavier coats and turning on lights before dinnertime. The world feels quieter. The hum of summer fades, replaced by the rustle of wind, the rhythm of rain, and the whisper that it’s time to slow down. For some, this season feels like a breath—permission to rest, reflect, and recharge. But for many, the shorter days