Mental Health Awareness/Growth

When I tell people I am a therapist, I’m usually hit with “oh nice, so you listen to people.” I just grin and nod. Most of us don’t really know how therapy works. We might have visions of someone lying on a couch talking, someone taking mysterious notes. The best metaphor I have ever heard is that therapy is a dark room and the therapist has a flashlight.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a client plop down on the couch and immediately share how “terribly” they’ve been “coping.” As those sessions go on, we often find they have actually been coping well. They’re just still feeling the effects of a past trauma, a recent experience, or even the stress of current life. So, to discuss what coping skills are, let’s discuss what they aren’t.

An article came out recently about why therapy isn’t working for this generation. The author made some compelling points, but the one that stood out to me most was about how therapists inhibit client’s growth by fostering reliance on the therapist. Honestly, this bothered me a great deal because skilled therapists don’t do this.

AI is everywhere. We used to have to check a box to okay its use, but now, sometimes we aren’t even aware its operating in the background of whatever we’re using. I’m sure AI has its place in our world, but most of us therapists are getting concerned that it’s causing more harm than good when it comes to our mental health.

Change pretty much sums up the reason anyone seeks out therapy. It can be terrifying, exciting, sought after or avoided. It is probably the most certain thing in life, but also seems to be the least understood. So, in the context of therapy, what does change look like? I’ll sum up some truths about change based on how our brains work (the science) and also the way we can make sense of that and use it to support the change we want (the art).

Our nervous system is wired to protect us. When something feels threatening, our body automatically shifts into fight, flight, or freeze. These responses are not weaknesses — they’re brilliant survival strategies. The problem comes when the body doesn’t fully settle back down after the danger has passed. You might notice feeling constantly on edge, easily overwhelmed, shut down, or disconnected.

Many people come to therapy expecting to talk through their problems. And for some, talking works well. But for others, putting emotions into words can feel difficult—especially when experiences are complex, overwhelming, or happened long ago.

Art can be a powerful way to express emotions that are difficult to put into words. You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from creative expression—sometimes simply putting color or shape on paper can help you understand what you’re feeling and release some internal tension. This simple exercise can help you check in with yourself and give your emotions a place to go.