Therapy Archives - Blossom Counseling

Therapy 101: Terms You’ll Definitely Hear (and Should Know!)

When you first start therapy, it can feel like stepping into a foreign country where everyone speaks another language. Therapists often toss around terms casually, but for newcomers, words like “boundaries,” “coping skills,” or “attachment style” can feel like a secret code. The good news? These terms are actually super helpful once you understand them. […]

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Getting Started, Therapy, Tips

What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression? Understanding the Diagnosis No One Talks About

Depression can be heavy, isolating, and incredibly frustrating—especially when you’ve done all the things and still don’t feel better. You’ve tried therapy. You’ve taken medication. Maybe more than one. Maybe more than five. And yet, that cloud hasn’t lifted. If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with something called treatment-resistant depression (TRD)—a term that

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Depression, Mental Health, Q&A, Therapy, Treatments

Understanding and Managing Self-Destructive Impulses: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle

Ever found yourself doing something you know isn’t good for you, but you do it anyway? Maybe it’s eating an entire tub of ice cream when you’re already full, skipping a big opportunity out of fear, or procrastinating on something important until it becomes overwhelming. These moments might seem small or even trivial, but they

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Guides, Mental Health, Therapy

When Depression Feels Overwhelming: Understanding the Weight and Finding Relief

Depression isn’t just feeling sad. It’s a deep, consuming fog that makes everything—getting out of bed, responding to a text, even brushing your teeth—feel like an impossible task. The world moves on, but you feel stuck. Maybe you’ve been told to “just push through,” or “think positive,” but those words land like bricks, heavy and

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Coping Skills, Depression, Therapy

Fortune Telling: How This Sneaky Cognitive Distortion Keeps You Stuck

Picture this: you’re lying in bed, unable to sleep, convinced tomorrow’s meeting is destined to be a disaster. You’ve imagined every possible way it could go wrong—your boss frowning, colleagues rolling their eyes, or your ideas being dismissed. Before you know it, you’ve already decided tomorrow is doomed, leaving you anxious and exhausted before the

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Connection, Mental Health, Mindfulness

Why Therapy Can Feel Exhausting—And Why That’s Completely Normal

Therapy is often painted as a relaxing escape—a space to unwind, unload your worries, and feel refreshed. While that’s true (therapy can be wonderfully restorative), it can also be surprisingly exhausting. But why? Aren’t you supposed to leave sessions feeling lighter, not drained? The truth is, therapy can feel tiring for a very good reason.

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Emotions, Getting Started, Mental Health, Therapy

Inside the Therapy Room: Things Your Therapist Probably Says (And Why They Matter)

Ever wondered what goes on behind the closed doors of a therapy session? If you’ve been in therapy before, you’ve probably noticed certain phrases that seem to pop up again and again. It’s not because therapists have a secret script (though that would make our jobs easier). These statements are often rooted in research, psychology,

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Mental Health, Therapists, Therapy, Tips

Why Replacing Negative Thoughts Isn’t Working (And What to Try Instead)

We’ve all been there: your therapist or favorite Instagram self-help guru tells you to “just replace those negative thoughts!” So, you try swapping out “I’m terrible at this” for something like, “I’m amazing and totally unstoppable!” But for some reason, it feels fake, forced, or just plain ineffective. Here’s the truth: simply swapping negative thoughts

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Congitive Defusion, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Tips

The Hidden Side Effects of Gaslighting: How It Impacts Your Mental Health

Gaslighting isn’t just a trendy buzzword—it’s a subtle but powerful form of emotional manipulation that can leave deep psychological scars. Often, people who experience gaslighting don’t realize it’s happening until the effects are already woven into their mental and emotional well-being. It’s like living in a funhouse of distorted mirrors where your sense of reality

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Anxiety, Compassion, Depression, Gaslighting, Mental Health, Therapy

What No One Tells You About Therapy: The Totally Normal Parts of the Process

Therapy can feel like a mystery if you’ve never been before. You sit down, spill your thoughts to a stranger, and somehow—through a mix of talking, reflecting, and probably some awkward silences—you’re supposed to feel better. But if you’re new to therapy, you might wonder: Is this normal? Am I doing this right? Spoiler alert:

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Getting Started, Therapy

Finding Your Wise Mind in a Crisis: A DBT Skill for Staying Grounded

When life throws us into crisis mode, our emotions can feel like a tidal wave—overwhelming, chaotic, and all-consuming. In moments like these, making decisions can feel impossible. Do we react with pure emotion, letting anger or panic take the wheel? Or do we try to shut it all down, pushing our feelings away and acting

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Coping Skills, DBT, How To

The Hidden Costs of Avoiding Your Emotions (And Why They Add Up Fast)

Have you ever felt like emotions are an inconvenience—something to be ignored, stuffed down, or shoved to the side until you have time to deal with them (which, let’s be honest, is never)? Maybe you pride yourself on being logical, staying busy, or keeping things “under control.” The problem? Avoiding emotions doesn’t make them disappear—it

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Emotions, Therapy

Understanding the Different Types of Depression: More Than Just Feeling Blue

Depression is one of the most common mental health challenges, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. When people think of depression, they often imagine someone who feels persistently sad or low. While that’s certainly one part of the picture, depression can take many forms, each with its own unique features and challenges. Knowing

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Depression, Emotions, Therapy

What to Talk About in Therapy: Finding Your Voice in the Room

Therapy often feels like a big question mark when you first walk in. You might think, What am I supposed to say? Do I need a plan? Should I talk about my childhood, my stress at work, or that fight I had with my partner? If these questions sound familiar, you’re not alone. Talking in

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Communication, Getting Started, Therapy

Can AI Be Your Therapist? Exploring the Pros and Cons of Virtual Support

The idea of using artificial intelligence (AI) as a therapist might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s becoming an increasingly common option in the world of mental health. AI-powered chatbots and apps offer a kind of “always-on” support system that promises to make mental health care more accessible, affordable, and stigma-free.

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Getting Started, Q&A, Therapists, Therapy, Tips