Other – HTG

By Diana Ibarra AMFT With the start of the New Year, I, like others, have thought about what my New Year's resolutions would be. I began scrolling through old pictures of myself to see what I could do to better myself. This only caused me to compare myself to who I was before the pandemic. For most of last year, I kept telling myself that I needed to get back to my pre-pandemic self; I assume I was not the only one. It made me sad to look back at who I used to be and what parts of myself had changed. It[...]

What if I Don’t Like My Therapist?

By Evelia Saucedo, MS, AMFT Making a connection with your therapist is essential. Sometimes, it may take two to three sessions to figure out if the therapist is a fit for you, and in some cases, you will know from day one. Connection to your therapist is essential because it will determine your treatment level and comfort, and progress. If you struggle to make a connection, chances are you will not be comfortable or even trust your therapist. You don’t have to stay with the therapist if you are not com[...]

Writing Your Heart Out!

by: Veronica Salcido-Rodriguez One of my favorite homework strategies in therapy is to Journal. When people think of journaling, they may think of a diary and think diaries are for teenage girls to express their feelings about a crush. While that may true, journaling or a diary can also be so much more than that, and I believe it is. A journal can be the place where you can write about sadness, anger, happiness, or any thought you may have or that you keep thinking about. It is a place where you can expre[...]

A letter to Caregivers

Written by: VERONICA SALCIDO RODRIGUEZ, MA Being the primary caregiver to a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia can be very difficult. It is a hard job seldom ask for but falls on the lap of the next to kin and closest loved one to the person who needs the care. Often, these responsibilities are an unplanned, yet a necessary part of life. Being a caregiver means that you care for the person you love the most and you watch them go through their own and sometimes heart wrenching difficulties and t[...]

04 Oct 2021

Other

A Bridge to Change

Written by: JEAN PIERRE BRAVO, MA The therapy process can easily be compared to a bridge. Just like therapy, a bridge has a beginning, a middle and an end. We all face challenges throughout our lifespan and may encounter many bridges within our lifetime. There will be bridges that you can cross yourself, but there will be times when we need extra support and guidance to accomplish this task. As a mental health clinician my job is to guide my clients through the bridge that they are currently having challe[...]

20 Sep 2021

Other, Spirituality

Increasing Motivation

Written by: EVELIA SAUCEDO Motivation is a big contributor to accomplishing tasks and other things in our life. When motivation is low, we sometimes have tendencies to struggle with accomplishing tasks. Without a desire to do things, we fall back on having very little, to no drive in accomplishing goals. At times, we may feel energized and ready to embrace the tasks we set out for; however, once we attempt to get started, it becomes difficult to get there. It is important to set a purpose, in order to giv[...]

06 Sep 2021

Other, Spirituality

Benefits of Journaling

Written by: JEAN PIERRE BRAVO, AMFT Journaling is a great way to get in touch with your mind, body and soul. The simple act of writing something down tells your mind it’s important and should probably remember the information. There are many types of journals out there so one must go and experiment with them and see which one is right for them. My favorite way to journal is through an art journal and I also like to encourage the creation of an art journal with most of my clients. There are many benefits[...]

02 Aug 2021

Other

What is Art Therapy?

Written by: JEAN PIERRE BRAVO, AMFT Art Therapy is a mental health field that improves the lives of individuals, couples, families, and communities. Art Therapy is facilitated by a professional Art Therapist who uses psychological theories to improve cognition and sensorimotor functions, foster self esteem, raise awareness, cultivate resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce conflicts and distress, and promote societal and ecological change. Art in therapy engages the mind, body, and spir[...]

19 Jul 2021

Other

Self – Acceptance

Written By: Raquel Martinez, MSW We live in a society in which perfection is what is deemed ideal. The standards are high, and we seem to forget that no one is perfect. We have unrealistic expectations of ourselves and when unmet, we internalize the ‘failure’ and move further away from self-acceptance. When it comes to focusing on our mental health, we must first work on accepting ourselves. The thing about mental illness is that people want you to behave as if you do not have one. Therefore, you live[...]

12 Jul 2021

Other, Relationships, Social Issues

Managing the Instinctual Drama Triangle

Written by: Ashlee Wong, MA When I was younger, I had dreams of being an actor. Not that I had any real talent to speak of, but I used to imagine myself in the movies or TV shows I watched and thought that I could be a successful actor living a wonderful, glamorous life in Hollywood. I very quickly realized that I don’t have the personality that would support a career with any real longevity. And yet, my thoughts of being an actor were never fully inaccurate; I just didn’t know that there was a real-l[...]