Therapy grounded in real inner work and genuine human connection.
Most people think that eating disorders are about food, weight or appearance, but that’s not the core issue. They are really about how a person experiences, manages, and survives intense internal feelings, or emotional regulation. Let’s dive a little deeper into what that means. What …
The emotional labor of women in their 30s and 40s can go unseen by everyone, even the women themselves. It can be exhausting and cover a range of things, so let’s talk about it. What emotional labor really is When lots of responsibilities collide, like …
If you are struggling with infertility or pregnancy related challenges, watching others get pregnant quickly can be a tough terrain to navigate. There is no right or wrong way to feel, but sometimes negative feelings can take over and that’s normal. Let’s talk about why this happens.
The emotions you have when someone else announces their pregnancy, while you are struggling to get pregnant, can be complex. They can range from happiness to sadness, frustration, envy, to thinking you are not deserving or worthy of being a parent.
Seeing others experience the joy of sharing that they are expecting can make your reality of not experiencing this yet feel more real. When it is something that you are longing for this is a disappointing reminder of your situation and it hurts. So even if you are happy for them, you can still feel sad.
Sometimes your sadness can turn into frustration and be internalized as self-blame, because you can’t understand how it is so easy for others but difficult for you. This can lead to anger, not only at the situation but towards people who don’t really understand how you are struggling.
“Grief, the process in coming to terms with not conceiving as we wanted to, nor often at the time we wanted to, includes anger. We may also be angry about the time spent thinking about fertility and money spent too.” (Sainsbury, Tracey. “Caring for your mental health when trying to conceive.” Fertility Network UK. https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/caring-for-your-mental-health-when-trying-to-conceive)
As you long for the experience of being able to share your own pregnancy announcement, you may become envious of those who are able to easily get pregnant. It’s not that you don’t care for these people and want the best for them, it’s just hard to see them enter the journey with ease.
Unless that is someone else that you are close to that has gone through it before, or is currently going through it, struggling to get pregnant can make you feel alone. Although people in your life may be supportive, it’s hard for them to relate to what you are feeling and that can be isolating.
People who are struggling with infertility or challenges in conceiving commonly experience feelings of unfairness, frustration, or that they are personally inadequate.
When someone thinks “Why not me?” it’s because as humans we have this inherent sense of fairness. We think it’s only fair that good things should happen to good people, and that if you have done everything “right”, you should be rewarded with the thing you desire. When it’s not happening but others seemingly get pregnant effortlessly, this reinforces a feeling of being singled out.
“When we perceive unfairness, the brain activates emotional centers tied to social pain, which is why unfairness can feel personally hurtful, even when it doesn’t directly affect us.” (Jhutty, Dr. Saira. “Coping with Jealousy During Infertility: A Psychiatrist’s Guide to Healing.” June 4, 2025. https://www.cofertility.com/family-learn/coping-with-jealousy-during-infertility-a-psychiatrists-guide-to-healing)
So you think “Why not me?” because there is a sense that you somehow don’t deserve the same outcome.
As humans, we compare ourselves to others, especially in situations that are significant. Socially, we evaluate ourselves relative to other people, especially when we are determining how we are doing in life.
Being able to conceive and have children may be tied to your sense of identity, self-worth, and life goals. If you can’t, it can feel like a failure to fulfill your role or purpose.
It’s important to recognize that all of these feelings that you are experiencing are valid. It’s okay to feel hurt when you see someone else celebrating and you are not a bad person for having these emotions.
Setting boundaries is key. This can include taking a break from social media, opting out of attending baby showers if it feels too difficult, and politely declining to engage in conversations about pregnancy, parenting, etc. This is not rude, it is self-care because protecting your mental health is essential.
It’s also very healthy to talk to someone you trust like a close friend or your partner. Expressing your feelings is helpful to release the weight of carrying them alone. Some find comfort in connecting with others who are currenting experiencing the same thing or have in the past through support groups or online communities.
“Say the things you’re scared to say out loud. Cry. Laugh. Rant about your partner’s terrible timing. Connection is one of the most powerful tools for protecting your mental health and feeling less alone in this weird limbo.”
Sometimes it’s easier to talk with a therapist because it gives you an outside perspective and they are trained to help you process your emotions and work with people walking this same path.
When it comes to managing this very challenging time, remember to be kind to yourself. You may not be on the path you thought you would be on and that’s okay, the struggle is not a reflection of your self-worth. Each person has a different story so focus on your journey and try not to compare yourself to others.
If you need help or support navigating what you are going through, contact us, we are here for you.
As a parent, you might notice a lot more irritability, defiance, or meltdowns with your tween, which can be really disruptive. In dealing with that disruption, and everything that triggers for everyone else in your house, it’s hard to remember that those mood swings and …
If you notice your child suddenly self-conscious, saying “I’m not good at anything,” and comparing themselves to their friends, this might seem out of character and concerning. You should know this is not a failure in parenting, it’s actually a common developmental stage. That doesn’t …
Attending family therapy with your parents as an adult can bring up a lot of emotions. You might feel hopeful, anxious, or maybe even resistant. Obviously as an adult, you’re no longer a child under their care, but you’re still their kid. But you still want them to be your parent. So, it’s weird and you might wonder if therapy will actually help. All of these feelings and thoughts are valid, so let’s get into what you can expect.
The way you grow up continues to influence you as an adult because it has shaped how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how you handle conflict. If you’re choosing to go to therapy with your parents it should not be to place blame on them and how they raised you, but to process unresolved feelings, and to find healthier ways of relating to them now that you’re an adult.
Family therapy will not be a quick fix because change takes time. It might feel like the progress is slow but it will be worth it. You will want to be clear with each other, prior to starting therapy, what your goals are.
Do you want to understand each other better, or decrease the tension that you feel when you are together? Or maybe there are other things you want to get out of it, but clarifying that on the front end will be helpful.
Go into it with an open mind. Be prepared to listen and try to understand where everyone is coming from. This doesn’t mean that you allow your parents to minimize your feelings or experiences, you can be open to their truth while still holding onto yours.
Remember that you are an adult now, your parents do not have any authority over you, how you feel, or decisions you make. Attending therapy with them does not mean you are returning to a parent-child dynamic, you are all adults and it takes some shifting to be able to relate as adults..
A therapist’s office is a neutral space, so unlike when you were younger and you were living under your parents’ roof and their rules, you can be assured that you are in a space where everyone’s voice matters. The therapist will guide your conversations so no one dominates and everyone feels heard.
Every family communicates differently so one of the topics of discussion will likely be about your family’s communication style. This might include looking at how your parents communicated with you when you were younger and how you communicate with each other now. This, along with some reflections from the therapist can give some insight into your relationship and how it can be improved. Learning communication skills that work for your family in therapy can help you, as a family, work through issues on your own, outside of therapy.
It’s common for situations and emotions from the past to come up in therapy. Don’t consider this a step backwards, even if you thought everyone had moved on from the situation, therapy is a good place to really work through it.
If you have lingering feelings of hurt or resentment, it’s best to let your therapist guide you through it so you can truly heal. It’s important to work through things that have happened in the past but you will want to move towards focusing on the present and how you can relate to each other now so that you have supportive healthy relationships.
You might think that you knew what your parents were thinking or going through when you were younger, and that has shaped how you see them and connect with them. But in therapy you will get to hear your parents share their experiences from their perspective which is one you might not have heard before. A lot of things can come to light that makes you see them differently , which can bring new empathy. You may not agree with them but you may be able to relate more to how and why they have made certain decisions or behaved a certain way.
“As parents and adult children work through old hurts, enter into more appropriate roles, manage changes, and communicate effectively, they build stronger connections.” (Epstein, Sarah. “6 Ways Family Therapy Can Help Adult Children and Parents.” Psychology Today. February 21, 2028. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-the-generations/202301/6-ways-family-therapy-can-help-adult-children-and-parents.)
In a past blog we discussed how going to therapy isn’t about fixing you but it is “… a place to build a positive relationship with yourself so that you can establish positive relationships with others and the world around you.” This also holds true when it comes to family therapy and it’s a good place to start a more positive journey.
Going to family therapy with your parents as an adult is a big step forward and that will impact a lot of other relationships in your life now and in the future.
There will be some uncomfortable moments but it shows that you value the connection you have with them and want to have more positive interactions with them in the future. Taking small steps together can add up to significant changes that lead to growth and healthier relationships with the people you love.
If you are considering taking the next step to go to family therapy with your parents as an adult, contact us, we can help.
Family relationships can be some of the most meaningful and complicated connections we have. They shape us and support us, but sometimes they hurt us. When there is conflict or tension, it’s natural to consider cutting ties with your family, but that’s not always necessary. …
When you are in a relationship, it’s important for your partnership to remain healthy and balanced, no matter who brings home the most money. But due to societal expectations, it can be more of a challenge if the woman in the relationship is the breadwinner. …
ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for basic emotional support when you need a quick response, but it is not a good long term substitute for professional therapy…even though Chat’s answers are sometimes surprisingly insightful. Let’s talk about the benefits of talking with ChatGPT and the problems and/or risks.
If you experience an intense emotional situation and you don’t have someone to talk to and you aren’t currently set up with a therapist, turning to ChatGPT is always available at no cost. Because it’s so easy to access, you can quickly release your feelings which can relieve emotional distress.
Sometimes you may need a sounding board to talk through situations or decisions and ChatGPT can help you organize your thoughts and think through various perspectives. This may be all you need to get through what you are facing. And bots don’t judge you so it feels safe.
It’s also easy to get basic guidance and support by giving you information that you may need or helping you define something that you don’t have all the facts on. Similar to a Google search, ChatGPT can give you basic strategies and ideas for coping skills that you can use to address your problems.
One of the vital elements of what makes therapy so effective is the relationship that is built between a patient and a therapist, and ChatGPT cannot do this.
“Across the different therapeutic modalities, there is a consistent theme of being in a relationship with another person and making psychological contact.”
(Priestly, Stephanie. “Why Using ChatGPT as Therapy Is Dangerous.” Medium. April 7, 2023. https://medium.com/@stephanielouisepriestley/why-using-chatgpt-as-therapy-is-dangerous-e8e2f4678e7e)
The trust that is built and the connection that is formed is a basic human need that we all need. All therapists will tell you that the therapeutic interventions they make are some of the least important parts of therapy. It’s the connection between the therapist and client, the shift in facial expression the therapist recognizes, the experience of a therapist working with people’s internal worlds everyday that can pinpoint something AI cannot see.
Your therapist is a mirror, helping you to see what you can’t. Ai has information, it can reflect back the information you give it, which can be super helpful if you need to talk something out.
But you do have to ask it for alternative perspectives, otherwise, it will reflect back and validate only your experience, which is valuable, but doesn’t reliably create progress.
Another concern is the lack of privacy when sharing personal information. Anytime you share your info online you are taking a chance that it is not kept secure.
“HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) doesn’t apply to ChatGPT because it deals specifically with the electronic transmission of healthcare information related to insurance. ChatGPT has nothin’ to do with insurance, so it doesn’t apply.”
(Jancer, Matt. “Don’t Use ChatGPT as Your Therapist—Unless You Want Your Private Information Leaked.” Vice. July 30, 2025. https://www.vice.com/en/article/sam-altman-comments-chatgpt-therapy/)
So while it may be helpful and offer basic coping strategies and validation, ChatGPT is not equipped to support you in the way a human therapist with training and experience can,
It may be helpful between therapy sessions to help you think through things, problem solve or to vent your thoughts and emotions, but establishing a human connection with a trained professional is an investment that will pay dividends for a lifetime. For that to happen, find the right therapist. We wrote a blog about that here.
If you are ready to take the step to begin therapy and so that you can make a positive impact on your mental health, contact us, we are here to help.
Couples come to us saying they want to work on their communication issues. But most of the time, couples actually agree. Or actually can understand each other. So what’s the problem? It’s actually that you guys are saying the same thing, but in two different …