Our therapist, Anna Kim, is hearing more and more these days about Bad Feelings. Maybe it’s the seasonal change, the darker evenings, or the anticipation of the upcoming holiday season. As we settle back down into routines and take stock of another summer, it’s normal to feel a pull toward reassessment, an acknowledgement of the time that has passed, toward loss. Whatever the cause, it’s coming up a lot and there’s a need to advocate for the feelings we like to push off and label negative. Read on why "good" or "bad" feelings don't exist.

In therapy, it is very common to have questions about yourself, the therapeutic process, and your therapist. Over the years that I have practiced as a therapist, I have seen a common thread of questions that are frequently asked by my clients. We hope the answers to these six common therapy questions will help you understand therapy better and feel validated in your experience.

Instead of "new year, new me” this year, I think slogans like, “new year, new strain” or “new year, same anxiety” might be more appropriate. How are we supposed to move forward and set intentions, resolutions, or goals for the new year when travel, gatherings, events, and social life are cancelled? If you’re looking for a blog post with answers, this is not it. Read more for reflection and validation.

Music is so often utilized for therapeutic purposes—conveying emotions we did not know how to articulate and meaning making as a soundtrack to significant times in our lives. Read about how Red (Taylor’s Version) can feel therapeutically important through the themes of nostalgia, agency, and common humanity.

A lot of clients come into therapy knowing their attachment style, sure that they’ll never be able to maintain a secure attachment because of things that happened in their childhood that were out of their control. You are not stuck in one pattern or way of interacting with others and existing in relationships. Read more about your attachment style, how to build a new attachment style, and feel more secure in relationships.

Your therapist is human too! We can be messy, suck at boundaries, and also share in everyday experiences. If you have questions about your therapist but are too afraid to ask, click here and read about 10 things you might not know about your therapist.

When we practice validation, we’re letting someone know that their internal experience and feelings are understandable and we’re communicating that they are okay to feel. By validating someone else’s experience you’re not invalidating your own--two people can be having different experiences and they’re both completely valid. Here’s 3 steps on how to validate others’ feelings.

Do you engage in movement with your partner? What kinds of practices do you do together to get to share in connecting through embodiment? Read on for Gaby Ramos’ experience trying out couples yoga with her partner and learning about the importance of movement for connection.