Collaborative Minds Blog
Education to empower your mental health journey.
The Silent Struggle: Mental Health and the Spouse of a Doctor
When people imagine the life of a doctor’s spouse, they often picture comfort, status, and stability. What they don't see is the long nights spent alone, canceled plans, the weight of emotional labor, and the quiet erosion of one’s own needs and identity. As both a therapist and the wife of a physician, I’ve lived this paradox — and I know I’m not alone.
Supporting Maternal Mental Health with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Motherhood is a journey filled with profound joy, growth, and connection—but it can also bring intense emotional challenges. Many mothers experience feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, depression, or difficulty managing emotions as they navigate the complex demands of parenting and personal well-being.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: How to Care, Connect & Support
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is a time to remember lives lost, support those struggling, and build communities founded on hope and healing. Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults, and over 20% of teens have seriously considered it in the past year. These numbers remind us that prevention matters and you can make a difference.
September Reflections: Navigating Changes, Connection, and Care
As we step into September, life begins to shift again. The air turns crisper, routines pick up speed, and for many families, the return to school marks a significant transition. At Collaborative Minds Psychotherapy, we recognize that September brings a mix of anticipation, stress, and emotional readjustment—for children, teens, adults, and families alike. This month, we’re highlighting a few themes that often show up in therapy at this time of year.
Back-to-School Anxiety: Preparing for a Smooth Transition
The shift from summer freedom to a structured school routine can bring excitement, and oftentimes it can also bring anxiety. As students and caregivers prepare for this change, it's normal to feel nervous. With thoughtful planning and supportive strategies, this transition can feel empowering rather than overwhelming.
Social Skills for Teens: Build Confidence & Connection
Navigating friendships and social situations during the teen years can be exciting—and sometimes challenging. Whether you're replaying awkward conversations in your head or wishing you felt more confident in front of a group, social skills are learnable, not fixed.
Mental Wellness for Parents: Supporting the Supporters
At Collaborative Minds Psychotherapy, we recognize that parents and caregivers are often the unsung heroes—nurturing others while putting their own needs last. But mental wellness isn’t a luxury for caregivers; it’s a necessity. When parents take care of their mental health, they model resilience, emotional regulation, and balance for their families.
Therapy Is for Everyone: You Don’t Have to Wait Until a Crisis to Get Help
Many people think therapy is only for those in crisis — when life feels unbearable, or something has reached a breaking point. But at Collaborative Minds Psychotherapy, we want to challenge that myth.
Dropping Anchor: A Quick Reset for Summer Overwhelm
Feeling flooded by summer chaos? Here’s a quick mental reset to pull you out of your racing thoughts and back into the present moment when everything feels like too much.
Learning to Fall: The Gift of Mistakes
Every parent knows the feeling: your child forgets their homework (again), gets cut from a team, or finds themselves in a conflict with a friend or teacher. The temptation to jump in and fix things is strong. We want to help them. We want to protect them. We want to prevent them from feeling pain. But the hard truth is, when we constantly shield our kids from mistakes, we also shield them from learning how to grow. As uncomfortable as it is, making mistakes is part of growing up. Whether they are five or fifteen, kids build resilience, confidence, and problem solving skills when they are allowed to stumble - and supported as they get back up.
The Summer Slump: Navigating Motivation and Mental Health During the Off-Season
Summer often feels like a break—a time to recharge, break routines, and bask in more free time. This shift can often bring an unexpected slump. You might find yourself lounging more than usual, struggling to start tasks, or feeling restless when unstructured days stretch endlessly. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.
Motherhood and Identity Loss: Finding Yourself Again
No one tells you that becoming a mother might mean losing sight of who you are. Alongside love and joy, there is often grief, confusion, and a deep questioning of identity. If you find yourself saying “I don’t know who I am anymore,” keep reading to learn tips for finding yourself from a maternal mental health therapist.
Are You a Chronic People-Pleaser? 7 Signs You’re Neglecting Your Needs
Do you always say “yes” when you really want to say “no”? Find yourself overextending for others but feeling burned out, resentful, or invisible? If so, you might be stuck in a cycle of chronic people-pleasing—and it could be costing you your mental health.
5 Therapist-Approved ADHD Hacks That Actually Work for Adults
Managing ADHD as an adult can feel like a constant game of catch-up—whether it's forgetting appointments, procrastinating on simple tasks, or struggling to finish what you start. The good news? With the right strategies, living with ADHD doesn’t have to mean chaos. Keep reading for 5 therapist-approved hacks that actually work for adults with ADHD.
Coping With the Unknown: Why Uncertainty Feels So Unbearable—and What You Can Do About It
Unanswered texts. Health scares. Waiting to hear back after a job interview. Life is full of unknowns and for many of us, that’s a major problem. Uncertainty has a way of hijacking our thoughts, keeping us up at night and pulling us into cycles of worry, checking or avoidance. But why is uncertainty so hard to tolerate? And how can we learn to live with it without spiraling?
Why Your Teen Might Need a Social Media Detox This Summer (and How to Support Them)
Summer is supposed to be a time for rest, reconnection, and recharging, but instead of taking a mental break, many teens find themselves glued to their screens even more during the summer months. A summer social media detox might be just what your teen needs to reclaim their time, improve their mental health, and rediscover who they are offline.
How to Support LGBTQIA+ Teens and Young Adults With Anxiety
For many LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults, anxiety isn’t just about social pressures, academic demands, or future uncertainties—it’s often deeply rooted in navigating identity in a world that doesn’t always feel safe or accepting. Keep reading to learn more about recognizing and supporting LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults who might be struggling with anxiety.
My Child is Excited for Camp… So Why Am I Anxious?: Tips for Parents Who Need Help Letting Go
Sending your child off to sleepaway camp can feel like a milestone—for them and for you. If you’re feeling a little off as camp season approaches, you’re not alone. Whether it’s your child’s first summer away or their fifth, this kind of separation can bring up big feelings. Here are some tips for managing the very real stress that can come with letting your kids “go” for the summer.
7 Things No One Told You About Being Neurodivergent In Your 20s
Being in your 20s is often painted as a time of freedom, excitement, and “figuring it all out.” But the reality is usually much more complicated—especially if you’re neurodivergent. Keep reading for 7 things no one really tells you about being neurodivergent in your 20s.
Is Your Teen Struggling Socially? Here’s What to Look For—and How Group Therapy Can Help
Both preteens and teens missed out on key social-emotional development during the early stages of COVID, when school and classes were held virtually. More than five years later, we’re still seeing the effects of that disruption in our clients. Keep reading to learn about the signs to look out for and how group therapy can help.