Therapy Sketches
Reflections from the members of our clinical team on connections and insights made in psychotherapy about the lives we live and how it impacts our mental health.
Older sketches
EMDR Therapy: A Comprehensive Overview of Theory, Mechanisms, and Applications
May 2025
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, known as EMDR, was developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987. This method, which has been approved by institutions such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), […]
Shifting Between Survival Modes: Understanding Trauma Through Polyvagal Theory
May 2025
The Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges to explain the autonomic nervous system’s relationship with social connectedness, security perception, and threat responses, provides a neurophysiological framework. Polyvagal Theory proposes that the autonomic nervous system, specifically the vagus nerve, regulates an individual’s health and behavior. Unlike previous […]
The Science of Safety & Social Connection: Polyvagal Theory
April 2025
Many traditional modalities often overlook that feelings of safety stem from intrinsic physiological states. Polyvagal Theory highlights that our sense of safety stems from a measurable neurophysiological basis. Furthermore, it integrates neuroanatomy and neurophysiology to explore the need for security, which provides a fresh scientific perspective […]
Understanding Internal Family Systems: A Contemporary Approach to Psychotherapy
April 2025
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based psychotherapy method developed by Richard C. Schwartz. The theory of IFS offers a way to understand and treat inner processes by applying systems theories and techniques. This therapy approach is designed to release internal constraints that prevent people from […]
Main Types of Infidelity
April 2025
Exploring Infidelity as a Trauma: Understanding Its Psychological Impact Infidelity is a multidimensional and complex phenomenon that is evaluated in the context of different cultural norms and moral frameworks. Infidelity can be defined simply as the emotional, sexual, or romantic involvement of one partner in a romantic relationship with a third person (Rokach and Chan, […]
The Importance of Self-Identity in Relationships
April 2025
The Benefits of Maintaining Independence in Relationships Getting caught up in our new person can feel easy and exciting when entering new relationships. We might experience a period where we always want to spend time with our significant other. Or we live with our partners and spend most of our daily time with them. Falling […]
Pitfalls of Mental Shortcuts: Assumption Traps in Couples
March 2025
Assumptions are the shortcuts we use to make sense of the world around us, including our relationships and also about our partner. Sometimes, it might be times when we face a situation that confuses us in a romantic relationship. We might not have all the details to […]
Dissolution of Romantic Relationships: Breakup and Divorce
March 2025
Ending romantic relationships is just as natural as keeping them going. When breakups or divorces are encountered, it’s common to experience a range of psychological and physical impacts. These impacts might manifest themselves as emotional distress, such as sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, or loneliness. Additionally, individuals may experience […]
Intimate Partner Violence: How to Safely Confront It?
February 2025
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) describes a situation where one individual in a close relationship employs various forms of abuse—such as physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, or financial—to dominate or control their partner. IPV is a serious societal issue that has negative effects on various aspects of both individual […]
The Importance of Safety and Trust in Romantic Relationships
January 2025
People tend to participate in social connections where they feel fundamentally safe, are not hurt or exploited, and are cared for and protected (Murray & Pascuzzi, 2024). Romantic relationships have long played an essential role in fulfilling this basic need. Several key ingredients make up a […]
Understanding Grief: A Journey of Adaptation
January 2025
Grief is a natural process that occurs after the death of a loved one and involves emotional reactions. During the mourning period, a person may feel shock or disbelief at the death or loss of a loved one. Feelings of loss, pain, sadness, grief, sorrow, longing, longing, anger, guilt, […]
What Happens When Setting Boundaries Isn’t Enough?
December 2024
Boundaries are personal limits we deliberately establish to help us manage relationships more effectively and safeguard our well-being. They serve as protective barriers in our lives, such as our time, emotional well-being, psychological health, and physical space. By setting clear boundaries, we can better create our personal space, […]