Pennsylvania Mental Health Blog | Therapy Tips from Real Local Clinicians

How to Be More Patient: Real-Life Steps to Strengthen Your Patience Muscle

Patience sounds like one of those things you either have or you don’t—like curly hair or a green thumb. But in reality, patience is a skill. A learnable, developable, often painfully slow-to-develop skill (yes, the irony is noted). And in a world of instant gratification, fast Wi-Fi, and two-day shipping, patience isn’t exactly something our […]

How to Be More Patient: Real-Life Steps to Strengthen Your Patience Muscle Read More »

Personal Development

How Creativity Boosts Brain Health and Emotional Wellbeing

When we think about taking care of our mental health, we often go straight to the usual suspects: therapy, mindfulness, exercise, maybe some journaling or deep breathing. But creativity? That one doesn’t always make the list—though it absolutely should. Creativity isn’t just for artists or “right-brained” people. It’s for anyone with a brain (so, all

How Creativity Boosts Brain Health and Emotional Wellbeing Read More »

Emotions, Mental Health, Wellness

What to Remember When You’re Stressed About Reaching Your Goals

The pressure to achieve can sneak up on you. One minute you’re feeling motivated and ready to tackle your to-do list; the next, you’re spiraling because you haven’t made enough progress, or someone on Instagram seems lightyears ahead of you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or behind in life, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not

What to Remember When You’re Stressed About Reaching Your Goals Read More »

Goals, Growth Mindset, Personal Development, Stress

8 Subtle Signs You’re Healing from Anxiety (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It Yet)

Healing from anxiety doesn’t always come with a neon sign or a dramatic “aha” moment. Sometimes, it’s quiet. It can look like noticing your own thoughts instead of being ruled by them. It might feel like breathing just a little easier in situations that used to send your heart racing. Anxiety can be persistent and

8 Subtle Signs You’re Healing from Anxiety (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It Yet) Read More »

Anxiety, Healing, Mental Health, Personal Development

Gentle Reminders Every Therapist Needs (Yes, Even the Seasoned Ones)

Therapists hold space for others all day long. We listen deeply, regulate our nervous systems while co-regulating others’, and offer empathy, insight, and presence—sometimes back to back for eight hours straight. We are trained to support our clients through pain, resistance, growth, and breakthroughs. But even with all the knowledge and skill in the world,

Gentle Reminders Every Therapist Needs (Yes, Even the Seasoned Ones) Read More »

Professional/Work, Therapists

What Are “Spoons”? Understanding the Spoon Theory in Mental Health

If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I’m out of spoons today,” and wondered what on earth they meant, you’re not alone. It’s not about forgetting to do the dishes—it’s a shorthand that’s taken root in disability and mental health communities to describe something many of us struggle to explain: limited energy. The Spoon Theory, coined

What Are “Spoons”? Understanding the Spoon Theory in Mental Health Read More »

Acceptance, Anxiety, Boundaries, Challenges, College/Students, Compassion, Coping Skills, Couples, Family, Friends, Mental Health, Relationships, Stress

5 Practical Ways to Help Kids Cope with Anxiety (That Actually Work)

Anxiety isn’t just an “adult thing.” Kids feel it too—sometimes just as intensely, but without the language or life experience to explain what’s going on. Whether it shows up as a stomachache before school, a meltdown over a seemingly small change, or a refusal to try something new, anxiety in kids can be sneaky and

5 Practical Ways to Help Kids Cope with Anxiety (That Actually Work) Read More »

Anxiety, Children, Coping Skills, Parenting

6 Texts Narcissists Send to Keep You Hooked (And Why They Work)

It usually starts with a message that feels sweet—or at least confusing enough to make you pause. You’re thinking about pulling away from the relationship, maybe setting boundaries or finally walking away, when ding—your phone lights up with a text that throws you right back into the loop. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

6 Texts Narcissists Send to Keep You Hooked (And Why They Work) Read More »

Attachment, Relationships

What It Really Means When You Cry in Therapy (And Why It’s Totally Okay)

Let’s be real—crying in front of someone can feel awkward. Add a therapy room, a box of tissues, and the weight of everything you’ve been carrying, and suddenly you’re in full meltdown mode while someone calmly takes notes. If you’ve ever cried in therapy—or worried that you might—you’re not alone. It’s actually one of the

What It Really Means When You Cry in Therapy (And Why It’s Totally Okay) Read More »

Emotions, Therapy

Why Brain Breaks Matter: The Science of Pausing to Boost Focus and Mental Health

In a culture that glorifies being busy, taking a break can feel like slacking off. Whether you’re a student grinding through assignments, a professional hopping from one Zoom call to another, or a parent juggling a hundred mental tabs, stopping—even for a minute—can feel counterintuitive. But the truth is, our brains aren’t designed to run

Why Brain Breaks Matter: The Science of Pausing to Boost Focus and Mental Health Read More »

Acceptance, Coping Skills, Goals, Mental Health, Professional/Work, Resilience

Color Psychology: How Colors Quietly Influence Your Mood (Without You Even Noticing)

Ever walk into a coffee shop and instantly feel cozy, or notice how hospitals always seem to go heavy on the beige? That’s not a coincidence. It’s color psychology at work. Colors do way more than make a room look nice. They set the mood, influence how we think, and even affect how our bodies

Color Psychology: How Colors Quietly Influence Your Mood (Without You Even Noticing) Read More »

Art Therapy, Emotions, Mental Health, Sensory

Unlearning Nice Girl Conditioning: How to Stop Shrinking Yourself to Keep the Peace

So many of us were taught early on that being liked is the goal. That being “nice” means being quiet, agreeable, helpful, and never rocking the boat. On the surface, it sounds harmless. Who doesn’t want to be kind, right? But this version of “nice” isn’t about kindness. It’s about shrinking yourself so everyone else

Unlearning Nice Girl Conditioning: How to Stop Shrinking Yourself to Keep the Peace Read More »

How To, Personal Development, Women

Unlearning Who You Were Told to Be: How to Reconnect with Your Authentic Self

Somewhere along the line—maybe when you were trying to make everyone proud, keep the peace, or live up to what was expected—you started showing up as who you thought you were supposed to be, not necessarily who you actually are. Maybe you became the one who always had it together. Or maybe you learned to

Unlearning Who You Were Told to Be: How to Reconnect with Your Authentic Self Read More »

Connection, How To, Personal Development

8 Signs You Might Be a Highly Sensitive Person (And What That Really Means)

Being called “too sensitive” can sting, right? It’s something a lot of us have heard, and it’s often said like it’s a bad thing. But for highly sensitive people, sensitivity isn’t a flaw—it’s a strength. Your brain and body just take in more: more detail, more emotion, more everything. Sure, that can feel overwhelming sometimes,

8 Signs You Might Be a Highly Sensitive Person (And What That Really Means) Read More »

Emotions, Highly Sensitive, Personality Types

Why “Letting Them” Might Be Your Best Mental Health Move Yet

If you’ve ever found yourself constantly stepping in to fix, manage, or smooth things over for everyone else, you’re in good company. It’s a habit that sneaks in quietly and stays for the long haul. And while it often comes from a caring place, it can leave you feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. What if

Why “Letting Them” Might Be Your Best Mental Health Move Yet Read More »

Acceptance, Challenges, Family, Mental Health, Relationships