• WHAT CAN WE DO? Physical, emotional or mental pain speaks so loudly it is difficult to ignore. We are often tempted to flight or flee. This may take the form of anger, feeling overwhelmed or frightened, helpless or hopeless or sometimes over-indulging in behaviors we know are not good for us. Yet,[...]

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    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[...]

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    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 [...]

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    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 [...]

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    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 [...]

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    How much does your relationship mean to you? What would you do to save it? Joint therapy sessions for partners or married couples can resolve current issues, provide a check-up during a transition period or influx of stress, to prevent an exacerbation of issues, or solidify your relationship. The [...]

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    Psychotherapy or talk therapy is best for the individual who wants to increase their compassion and self-esteem, overcome obstacles, make healthy decisions, and reach goals. Individual therapy facilitates self-growth and an increase in awareness. By taking an inventory in your past physical, [...]

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    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 [...]

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    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 [...]

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    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 [...]

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