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When Birth Doesn't Go the Way You Planned: Understanding Birth Trauma and How Therapy Can Help

Birth trauma can affect you long after delivery. Learn the signs and how EMDR, Brainspotting, and trauma therapy can help you heal.

Everyone talks about having a healthy baby. No one really talks about what happens when the birth itself leaves lasting emotional wounds.

Emily writes about what birth trauma might feel like for you and how therapy can help.

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Why OCD is Often Missed in High-Achieving People (by Therapists, too)

Many people with OCD don't realize they have OCD. Instead, they assume they're responsible, detail-oriented, driven, or successful. Many of the same qualities that help someone excel professionally and personally can make OCD harder to recognize - even by therapists. This is especially true for people who are high achievers, caregivers, parents, helping professionals, or those navigating the pregnancy and postpartum stages.

As a result, many people go undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or untreated for far longer than necessary.  Here’s why.

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The Trap of Over-Functioning

You are capable. That’s not up for debate. You figure things out. You get it done. You anticipate needs, solve problems, and carry more than most people even realize. You’re the one others rely on. The one who keeps things moving. The one who doesn’t fall apart when things get hard.

And for a long time, that’s probably worked for you. But at some point, being the one who can handle everything turns into being the one who has to handle everything alone.

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Mental Health, Therapy, Emily Aleksy Emily Aleksy Mental Health, Therapy, Emily Aleksy Emily Aleksy

Should AI Be Used in Mental Health Therapy?

Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. It’s showing up in our phones, our work tools, our creative processes—and increasingly, in healthcare spaces, including mental health.

Some therapists are beginning to use AI-powered tools during or around therapy sessions. These include note-taking software, session “assistants,” treatment-planning tools, or platforms that analyze session content.

We want to be very clear about our stance.

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How to Manage Overstimulation as a Parent

Parenting can be beautiful—and overwhelming.
When noise, clutter, and constant demands push you past your limit, it’s called overstimulation.
Small resets like micro-breaks, grounding, and lowering sensory input can help you find calm in the chaos.
Overstimulation doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent—it means you’re human.

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What NOT to Say to Someone Struggling with Fertility — (And How to Actually Support Them)

It’s Infertility Awareness Week— a time to lift the veil on an experience that is often invisible, isolating, and misunderstood.

⁠If someone you love is struggling to conceive, knowing what not to say is one of the most powerful ways you can show up.⁠

Emily’s latest blog post offers thoughtful alternatives to common (but painful) phrases.

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Let’s Talk About Perimenopause

Christine Gallo, LPC-IT writes insights on perimenopause, its effects on mental health, and practical tips for navigating this life transition. Learn about self-care, emotional shifts, and how to take control of this natural phase.

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OCD, Anxiety, Mental Health, Gabrielle Trecek Gabrielle Trecek OCD, Anxiety, Mental Health, Gabrielle Trecek Gabrielle Trecek

Do I Have Anxiety? Or OCD?

Clients and therapists alike can find the line between anxiety and OCD a little hazy. This can be frustrating for clients who hope to have a clear diagnosis, or even confusing when they walk away from a session with a different diagnosis than what was given by their prior therapist.

In this blog, Gabrielle details the differences and similarities - and what that all means for you.

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High Sensitivity: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Have you heard of highly sensitive people (HSPs)?

It’s a biological trait that about 20% of humans have, making them more sensitive. Read this post from our newest therapist, Christine Gallo, LPC-IT. Christine sees many HSPs in her practice. If this post resonates with you, she might be a great fit to help you explore further!

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Couples, Support, Mental Health, Therapy, Jeni Everts Beier Jennifer Everts Beier Couples, Support, Mental Health, Therapy, Jeni Everts Beier Jennifer Everts Beier

What is Gottman Couples Therapy?

ERA therapists Jeni and Kelsey are both Level 2 Gottman trained couples therapists. This means they have done about 40 hours of training just on how to be a couples therapist. But what difference does it make if a couples therapist is Gottman trained or not? Great question!

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How to Support a NICU Parent: Do’s and Don’ts

Having a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be one of the most overwhelming, stressful, and emotionally draining experiences for new parents. Parents of NICU babies face a unique set of challenges, from the emotional toll of watching their newborn struggle to the logistical demands of balancing hospital visits with everyday responsibilities. If you know someone navigating the NICU journey, offering your support can make a tremendous difference. But often, people don’t know what to say or do to truly help.

Tomorrow kicks off NICU Awareness Week, so in honor of that, here are some do’s and don’ts to help you support any NICU parents in your life.

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Anxiety, OCD, ERP, Mental Health, Gabrielle Trecek Gabrielle Trecek Anxiety, OCD, ERP, Mental Health, Gabrielle Trecek Gabrielle Trecek

Managing Your Anxiety - Making Decisions Based on Values, Not Fear

When anxiety flares, it’s easy to become trapped in fear-based thinking, leading us to make choices out of a desire to avoid discomfort rather than pursuing what truly matters to us. However, there’s a different path—a way of making decisions based on our values, rather than our fears. Read this blog from Gabrielle Trecek, LCSW, to learn more

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Supporting Your Partner Through Trauma - With the Help of Couples Therapy

When one person in a relationship is grappling with trauma, it can affect the entire relationship. Couples therapy offers a path to navigate these challenges together while fostering empathy, understanding, connection, and healing.

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