I am all for using the new year as a fresh start. Since many of us have a little down time leading up to New Year’s Day, it’s a welcome chance to rest, reflect, and consider what we might like to accomplish in 2026. What I don’t love is burdening ourselves with the expectation of…
This time of year is ROUGH for some of us queer and trans folks. I am sure I don’t need to tell you that you’re not the only one who might be struggling. Maybe it’s because you’re not going to see family at all, but maybe it’s because you ARE seeing your family. For queer…
It’s Saturday afternoon, and my wife has put on the Lilith Fair documentary. On one hand, it’s a big hot mug of warm nostalgia featuring beloved artists from my young adult years – Sarah McLauchlan, Lisa Loeb (huge crush), and Natalie Merchant, to name a few. And also, it has tapped into a well of…
How do you find a queer therapist in California? Here, you’ve found a great queer therapist. But if I said that Tara McGrath, LMFT is the best LGBTQ+ therapist in the entire state of California, that would be a pretty bold statement, right? It also can’t really be true. “Who is the best?” is actually…
What is a “secular” therapist? And why should you care? Approximately 80% of Americans believe in a supernatural god of some kind. So, there is a good chance that any given therapist is religious or spiritual in some way. A secular therapist is one who clearly identifies they do not include spiritual or religious practices in…
Where do you start when you’ve decided to see a therapist. People often turn to their health insurance for lists of providers. But, is that the best way to go? It’s generally true that a session with an insurance therapist may be the cheaper option. Often you’ll pay just a co-pay, approximately $10 to $40…
We Need To Talk About Friend Break-ups and Losses We don’t talk about friend break-ups enough. There are two reasons I want to discuss it here. First, losing a friend can be just as devastating as the end of a romantic relationship, and sometimes even more so. Second, it’s important to know you are allowed…
What is EMDR Therapy? You’ve heard people talk about EMDR, but what is it? EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a special therapeutic way to process trauma and painful or disturbing memories, resulting in far less emotional impact in the present. This can help you feel more calm, improve your sleep, and change your…
A support group (or group therapy) is not usually the first thing we think of when seeking help for our mental health. I get it – it can feel very vulnerable and risky to bring your personal pain and struggle to a room (or virtual room) full of strangers. Other concerns I’ve heard include, “I…
“Am I being too picky? Maybe I should give them another chance. Sometimes things are good. I shouldn’t even be thinking this way, doubting things. It started so well, but now I’m not sure…” The Chemistry is a Drug We’re all bombarded with this idea that one day, love will hit us like a bolt…