Grief is one of those universal life experiences from which a person never really recovers but learns to cope with and transform. When we lose people we love, the world is permanently changed. This is the price we pay as humans for the richness that our loved ones bring to our lives. Although it[...]
At San Diego Psychotherapy Associates, we practice play therapy for children, adolescents, and even adults, as an opportunity for them to heal themselves. By offering a safe space to express their free choice, they are empowered to make decisions, direct the play, and take responsibility for their [...]
Life is a process of constant change. Sometimes, major life transitions can throw us out of balance to the point where we lose access to some important aspects of our experience, we lose our sense of grounding and routines, or we disrupt our connections to others. Very brief, highly targeted [...]
Humans experience stress as a natural reaction to meet a demand or challenge. This “fight or flight” survival mechanism slows normal bodily functions like immunity and digestion to focus on breath, alertness, blood circulation, and muscle movement. The degree to which we react can be [...]
TRAUMA- Defining and Recovering Emotional or physical trauma is a complex condition. When we experience something as extremely threatening AND we feel helpless to stop the condition, often this can lead to us feel traumatized. It is an expected response to feeling terrorized and powerless. The [...]
What Is Self-Esteem? Self-esteem is your confidence in your worth, abilities, or perceived value. Healthy self-esteem is a precious psychological resource that correlates to good relationships, achievement, and satisfaction. Positive self-esteem can motivate you to navigate your life with an [...]
Depression is an extreme mood disorder that lasts over two weeks and in some cases, years. This can be onset by the birth of a child, transition into the winter months, or in combination with psychosis or bipolar disorder. It may cause intense symptoms that affect thinking, processing emotions, and [...]
Humans can utilize thought, emotion, or behavior to manage stressful experiences or change. Styles of coping can differ based on the significant life event and the person who is affected by it. Instrumental or problem-focused coping mechanisms will directly deal with the issue to reduce stress, [...]
Anxiety is the body and mind’s natural reaction to unfamiliar, stressful, or dangerous situations. Before a significant event, a healthy level of uneasiness or dread can help you remain aware and alert. Brain chemistry, personality, genetics, and conditioning can all affect the way you react to [...]
Social expectations may expose a child’s or adult’s inability to focus compared to their peers. Self-focused or hyper behavior may create challenges in school, work, or other social situations. We work with you and your children to identify goals, develop self-awareness, strategies, and skills[...]
