Have you ever had one awkward interaction completely erase an otherwise good day?

Maybe your boss says, "Can we chat tomorrow?" and suddenly you're mentally updating your résumé. Or you send a text, don't get a response for two hours, and somehow your brain has decided the friendship is over.

If you've ever wondered why your brain seems to cling to the bad stuff while brushing right past the good, let me introduce you to one of my favorite concepts to teach clients: negativity bias.

There’s a moment I see all the time in therapy. 

A client is overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally flooded, or stuck in a spiral of negative thoughts. I gently ask, “What helps when you feel like this?” 

And without fail, they stare at me like I’ve just asked them to recite the tax code backwards. “I don’t know.” 

Meanwhile, if you asked them their Starbucks order, the plot of three seasons of a reality show, or exactly what their ex said during an argument in 2019, they could answer immediately.

Sometimes the smallest shift makes the biggest difference. A deep breath. A stretch. A quick walk outside. These micro movements are not just good habits — they are actually changing what is happening in your nervous system, and that has a real impact on how you feel mentally and emotionally.

People-pleasing is often mistaken for a virtue. Being called "easygoing," "selfless," or "always willing to help" can feel like a compliment, but when saying yes to everyone else means saying no to yourself, it stops being kindness and starts becoming a problem. If you find yourself overcommitted, anxious about disappointing others, or unable to set a limit without a wave of guilt, you may be caught in a people-pleasing pattern. And while it might keep the peace on the surface, the long-term cost to your emotional health, your relationships, and your sense of self is real.

Perinatal mental health is an important part of overall well-being during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Many parents experience emotional and psychological changes during this time, and support can make a meaningful difference.

In this month's Therapy Moment, Maty Patino Trejo, ALMFT provides some simple ways to help reduce anxiety.

In this month's Therapy Moment, Sarah Davidson, MFT, LPC provides a great acronym to keep in mind when you are feeling overwhelmed or are dealing with a stressful moment in life!

Grief is one of the most complex emotional experiences we face as human beings. Whether it follows the death of a loved one, the pain of separation, or the loss of one’s home or sense of belonging due to immigration, grief changes not only how we feel — but also how our brains function.

Grief impacts individuals and families on emotional, relational, and biological levels.

In this month's Therapy Moment, Maggie, Zofkie, LCPC, provides some great tips on recognizing the difference between your capability vs capacity when completing tasks and feeling pressure to get everything on your to do list done!