Anxiety Disorder, Counseling Tips, EMDR Pennsylvania, EMDR Philadelphia, EMDR Therapy Philadlephia, Emotional Abuse, KAP, Ketamine Assisted Therapy, Online Therapy, PTSD therapy, Trauma Therapy
Julia Salerno
Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) the ...

If you’ve been exploring options to help you process your trauma and feel that traditional talk therapy isn’t quite hitting the mark, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) could offer a new pathway. KAP combines therapeutic support with the effects of ketamine to help access emotions, memories, and perspectives that might otherwise feel out of reach. While this innovative approach has shown promise for those with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and complex trauma, it’s essential to understand how KAP works—and whether it aligns with your healing goals.

Curious to learn more? Click here to read our blog on what makes KAP unique, its potential benefits, and how to decide if it’s right for your trauma recovery journey.

Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) the Right Choice to Help You Process Your Trauma?
Counseling Tips, EMDR Pennsylvania, EMDR Philadelphia, EMDR Therapy Philadlephia, KAP, Ketamine Assisted Therapy, PTSD therapy, Trauma Therapy
Julia Salerno
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy FAQ—Understanding the ...

Curious about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and how it might support your mental health journey? Our FAQ dives into the essential details—from what to expect in a session and who may benefit most, to safety considerations and how KAP works alongside traditional therapies. Explore answers to common questions and see if KAP could be the next step in your path to healing.

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy FAQ—Understanding the Process, Benefits, and Considerations
Anxiety Disorder, Counseling Tips, EMDR Pennsylvania, EMDR Philadelphia, EMDR Therapy Philadlephia, Online Therapy, PTSD therapy, telemedicine, Trauma Therapy
Julia Salerno
Why Trauma Intensives Are Ideal for Healing ...

Struggling with the lasting effects of childhood trauma can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional therapy doesn’t seem to go deep enough. Trauma intensives offer a powerful alternative, providing an immersive healing experience that helps uncover and resolve even the most deeply buried wounds. In this blog, we explore why trauma intensives are ideal for healing childhood trauma and how this focused approach can accelerate your path to recovery.

Ready to learn more about how trauma intensives can help you heal and reclaim your life? Click here to read the full blog!

Why Trauma Intensives Are Ideal for Healing Childhood Trauma
Counseling Tips, LGBT Therapy, Online Therapy, PTSD therapy, Poly Affirming Therapy, telemedicine, Trauma Therapy
Tiffany Spilove
Healing From Trauma As A Lesbian—Creating Safe ...

Healing from trauma is a deeply personal journey, especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community. As a lesbian, you may face unique challenges and experiences that can affect your healing process. In our latest blog, we explore how Trauma Intensive Therapy can create safe, affirming spaces that honor your identity and foster genuine healing.

Discover the importance of finding a therapeutic environment where you can be your authentic self and how specialized approaches can empower your recovery journey. Ready to take the next step? Click here to learn more about creating a safe space for your healing!

Healing From Trauma As A Lesbian—Creating Safe Spaces in Trauma Intensive Therapy
EMDR Pennsylvania, EMDR Philadelphia, EMDR Therapy Philadlephia, Online Therapy, PTSD therapy, telemedicine, Trauma Therapy
Julia Salerno
Somatic Therapy for Childhood Trauma—Why the ...

Childhood trauma can leave lasting emotional and physical imprints, often stored deep within the body, even when the mind has forgotten the details. In this blog, we explore how somatic therapy helps release trauma held in the body by tuning into physical sensations and using the body’s natural healing abilities. Learn how the connection between mind and body is key to unlocking trauma, fostering healing, and creating lasting change. Click to discover how somatic therapy can help you reconnect and reclaim peace from unresolved childhood wounds.

Somatic Therapy for Childhood Trauma—Why the Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets

self love

, , , ,

3 Tools to Reclaim Your Body Image In The Spring

, , , ,
3 Tools to Reclaim Your Body Image In The Spring

It’s such a colorful time of year in Philadelphia when the weather begins to warm. More people frolicking out and about on the historic, cobblestone streets. But you wonder why you aren’t experiencing the same sense of excitement and joy as it seems your fellow Philadelphians. All you can find yourself thinking about as you travel the Center City streets is how uncomfortable you feel in your body. You find yourself worried that others are judging the way your body looks in your newly purchased spring attire. You want so badly to feel happy in the changing of the seasons, but you can’t. You dread the warmer weather and the body shame it brings.  

, , , ,

Inner Critic vs. Inner Coach

, , , ,
Inner Critic vs. Inner Coach

We all have inner voices—one that judges  and belittles and one that is nurturing and up-lifting. However, for many the second inner voice often sounds like a fantasy. In fact, it feels impossible to even comprehend talking to yourself in a kind way because for most of us…the critic often always wins. Our inner voice can be a destructive force that can impact our overall mental wellbeing. This damaging voice magnifies negativity and often isn't satisfied until we are left feeling defeated and sometimes even paralyzed. So, how can we regain balance within our own system? How can we reset the inner critic and strengthen our inner coach?

, , , ,

Post-Holiday Blues

, , , ,
Post-Holiday Blues

Getting back into the swing of things can come as a relief for many after the holidays. Jumping back into their comfortable routine and leaving the holiday stress behind is what actually brings much cheer to many. For others, the financially, emotionally and mentally stressful come down from the most wonderful time of the year can bring on post-holiday blues. 

,

Self-Quarantine Has Taught Me the Importance of Self Care by Julie Salerno

,
Self-Quarantine Has Taught Me the Importance of Self Care by Julie Salerno

Putting off self- care? Julia Salerno, one of our graduate level therapists, opens up about her journey to accepting her need for self-care..

, , , , ,

"We cannot love others until we love ourselves" by Mikala Morrow

, , , , ,
love, bryn mawr, main line, therapy, counseling, villanova, philadelphia, love yourself

 "We cannot love others until we love ourselves"

by Mikala Morrow, Villanova Graduate Counseling Intern

This saying has been a cliché statement that has been thrown around as a way to encourage self-care or even used as a convincing statement to those who find it hard to love themselves. What does this statement truly mean?

It means that someway, somehow we must find, within us, love. This must mean that love is an innate ability and we all possess the ability to love ourselves without the assistance of others.

Personally, I do not believe this to be true. Can we truly have an innate ability to love ourselves without any help from others? If we truly cannot love others until we love ourselves, we have to be able to love ourselves without help, right? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Which comes first, our innate ability to love? Or is love taught to us from our caretakers, partners, peers or a higher power?

love, counseling, bryn mawr, therapy, villanova, love yourself

What if, “We cannot love others until we love ourselves” becomes “We cannot love ourselves and others until we have been loved.” My argument is that in order to learn to love others, we must first be loved. We must learn how to love and what love is.

Imagine a child who is neglected by their caretaker. This child never truly learns love. Instead, to them, love means neglect. Later on in life when meeting new people, how will they love them? If all this older child has known is that love is neglectful, they too will neglect those that they love.

Compare the first child with someone who has a loving caretaker who has shown interest in who they are. This child will grow up with the idea that love is showing interest in others and will love in this way. These examples may not be true for all, but it is something to think about. The child in the first scenario may

learn somewhere how to truly love but this will not come as easily as the child in the second scenario.

self love, counseling, bryn mawr, therapy, love yourself

We need to learn what love looks like towards us and we also need to learn how we love.  We may love by giving others gifts or our time. We may show our love through compliments or by offering a shoulder to cry on. We all have a unique way to show love. In order to practice our ways of loving, we need people around us to accept our love. If our unique way of showing love is rejected, we learn that we are not good at loving, or our way of loving is wrong.

Let’s say you show love with your time but your partner becomes annoyed and tells you they just want space. Your way of loving has been pushed away. We need other people around us to affirm the way we love.  While the statement, “We cannot love others until we love ourselves” has a good message at the core, it can be damaging for those who have never learned how to love themselves.

We all need love whether it is from other humans on earth (maybe even from a pet) or a supernatural love. Then we can truly love others’ authentically and comfortably.

Mikala, Villanova Graduate, Counseling, Bryn Mawr, Love, Therapy

Mikala has an intensely compassionate and unique way of connecting with you to help you identify and express your feelings and your deepest sense of self.  She is persistent and encouraging in the face of hopelessness and despair.  She especially loves working with women to provide tools to alleviate anxiety and depression.  Mikala has a wealth of experience and is skilled in the mental health field working with domestic violence, food & body issues and addiction.  If you're struggling to tolerate your emotions and you're looking for a guide to help you get to know yourself better, give her a call now at 570-412-4516.