Posts by People House
The Worst Has Happened, Now What? || By JT Nolan, LPC
The Stages of Change Model of Grief There’s a scene in “The Two Towers” (the second “Lord of the Rings” movie) where King Théoden receives the news that his son is dead. After Gandalf reassures him that his death was not his fault, Théoden replies, “No parent should have to bury their child.” I remember…
Read MoreWhat Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You—and How Therapy Can Help || By Deanna Edwards, LPCC
Have you ever woken up from a dream that stayed with you all day? Dreams are more than random images—they’re windows into our subconscious, reflecting our emotions, fears, and desires in ways our waking mind often misses. Take this dream, for example: The hotel keeps rearranging itself. Hallways stretch and fold, doors breathe softly, lights…
Read MoreStaying Present in Sexual Experiences: A Nervous System–Informed Perspective || By TJ Dubovich, MA, MFTC
Many people come to therapy wondering why it feels so difficult to stay present during sexual experiences—whether alone or with partner(s). They may describe distraction, self-criticism, numbness, anxiety, or a sense of going through the motions rather than truly inhabiting their bodies. These experiences are far more common than most people realize. They are not…
Read MoreWhat Do We Do When We’re Scared? || By Bre Smith
Sometimes when I feel really scared my system (body/mind) feels like it goes “offline.” What I mean by this is if my brain ran on Wi-Fi, my Wi-Fi went out. I don’t have access to the functioning I typically do (or that is expected of me socially). For us psych nerds, I am speaking to…
Read MoreRelearning How to Love (or, Stop Consuming Your Partner) || By Taylor Arroganté-Reyes, LPCC
Much of the work of therapy is learning to tolerate what we cannot control. Difficult, of course. But theoretically, simple enough.Enter scene: partner. Not so simple. A Pew Research poll from 2021 found that nearly 70% of adults rated their dating lives as “not going well,” and a little over half said dating has gotten…
Read MoreEveryone Is On a Hero’s Journey || By Beth Hinnen, Certified Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher
If Joseph Campbell popularized the hero’s journey, then J.R.R. Tolkien made it palpable with the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy. Every year, between Christmas and New Year’s, I watch all 3 movies. It used to be in one day, starting at 8 am. And given that I watch the extended versions — a full…
Read MoreClosing the Loop || By Laura Zwisler, LPC
It’s no surprise after the excess of the holidays that we buckle down and set some goals when we get to the new year. Of course we want to get back to something that feels healthier and sustainable, but I’ve started to wonder if setting goals is really the way forward. I propose that instead…
Read MoreFate or Destiny: It’s your choice || By Phannie Krentzman
Fate and Destiny have one thing in common; you make them both up. I am a curious person and when I learn or hear about something, I wonder about its origins, about its truth and how it applies to my life. On my journey of self-discovery, the concept of fate and destiny has come up…
Read MoreThe Anger Room: A Parts Work Strategy for the Holidays || By Annabelle Denmark, LPC
We’re all made of parts. You know this if you’ve ever been around someone who annoys you, frustrates you, intimidates you, or just gets under your skin for reasons you can’t fully name. A parent, a friend, a coworker—anyone can activate a part. And during the holidays, those parts tend to show up louder and…
Read MoreFinding Mind-Body-Spirit Balance During the Holidays: A Holistic Perspective from a Therapist in Denver || By Leanne Morton, MA, LPC, ATR
Why the Holidays Feel Heavy (Even When They’re Meant to Be Joyful) The holidays are rarely just about the joy, connection, and magic we see in the media. Alongside those pleasant experiences often comes the expectation to do more: consume more, create more, decorate more, cook more. At the same time, nature is slowing down.…
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