As a sex therapist, I find myself reminding my clients that relationships need attention to often remain fun and fulfilling. Both partners need to be invested in rekindling the relationship. This can be awkward and inconsistent for many couples and that’s why it’s okay to ask for help from a trained relationship expert - to help guide you and your partner in the healing process - on your road to reigniting your sexual desire.
Read MoreJust because painful sex is common, doesn’t mean that you have to accept or settle for it. Experiencing pain during sex is a common problem that can affect anyone - and it’s more prevalent than you might think. Nearly 75% of women will experience pain during sex at some point according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Read MoreDid you know that African Americans are 20% more likely than non-African Americans to experience depression, ADHD, PTSD and suicide attempts? Or that Asian Americans use mental health services 1/3 as often as whites and Latinx Americans 1/2 as often? July is BIPOC Mental Health Month. It gives us the opportunity to use this time as a catalyst to start having intersectional discussions and share resources about the lack of public awareness of BIPOC mental health issues - in addition to improving access to mental health treatment and services for these diverse communities and populations.
Read MoreRecent tragedies might have you feeling scared or anxious about what the future holds and that’s okay, too. Some of you might experience stress in the immediate aftermath and after a short time, are able to regain control of your emotional well-being. Others might feel unphased following something horrible, but can be triggered down the road, causing the trauma to resurface along with a range of physical, mental, emotional and behavioral reactions.
Read MoreWe are so excited to welcome and introduce Lara Alkurdi, MSW, LSW (pending) - our newest therapist at ELC! I’ve spent this last week working closely with her and have to say, we (our therapists and clients) are very fortunate to have Lara as part of our team. Her passion and drive to work with those struggling with anxiety and depression and other mental health issues is incredible.
Read MorePeople often feel a sense of loss when they realize that sex requires work. This might sound silly, but there is a misconception that sex should be effortless. That it should be easy and organic. Or, if those things don’t come effortlessly, you just aren’t good at “it”. Many people assume that we should be good at sex, however, the reality is that if you want to be a good lover, you have to work for it!
Read MoreFeeling exhausted? Lethargic? Do basic work tasks make you feel pessimistic? Maybe you’re so stressed that you find yourself snapping at close friends or family members? If you answered YES to these, you might be experiencing burnout.
Read MoreWhen trauma bonding occurs, it can be confusing, overwhelming and difficult to leave the abusive situation. This can also happen to anyone! You shouldn’t feel embarrassed, weak or incapable.
Read MoreTake a minute, close your eyes, and think about your most memorable, mind-blowing sexual encounter. Were you trying something new outside of your comfort zone? Were you with a partner that captivated you in such a way that you put all insecurities aside? You were raw. You were brave. And you were vulnerable - and it felt amazing! Here are a few tips to help you embrace being vulnerable together with your partner and asking for what you want in the bedroom!
Read MoreA pit in your stomach. Sweaty palms. A trembling voice. A racing heartbeat. Sound familiar? These are all symptoms associated with performance anxiety – a debilitating fear, worry or phobia that is triggered when you feel like you must perform a specific task. The pressure to achieve can be tied to any type of performance, especially when connected to an evaluative component, and sometimes before the task has even begun.
Read MoreYou should feel comfortable asking your therapist anything. It’s a safe place where you can talk freely with a trained professional – no judgement, no stigma – while receiving mental health help and advice. But, it’s not always easy to open up and ask tough questions. Let us help.
Read MoreMay is National Masturbation Month! It’s totally healthy and completely normal to engage in self-pleasure. It provides an opportunity for us to get to know our bodies better and our own sexual responses - not to mention tons of health + wellness benefits!
Read MoreAs humans, our brains are wired to experience fear and anxiety. It’s natural to feel scared, discouraged, helpless and even angry when we feel a loss of control - and that includes facing environmental issues. This can make it difficult to accomplish tasks and even have a negative impact on the way some people face the future. Here are a few tips to help tackle eco-anxiety and climate grief.
Read MoreCheating can hurt. It can be devastating to everyone involved - the partner that was cheated on, the cheater and the relationship. When many couples enter a new relationship, they do so with the mutual understanding of fidelity and respect. When that fidelity turns into infidelity, things can get tough. Lots of people assume that cheating ultimately means that a relationship is over, but that’s not always the case.
Read MoreDespite how far we’ve come in breaking down male gender norms over the last few decades, men are often expected to act tough and aggressive, never lose, show no emotion or not do anything that could be considered weak - in order to be “masculine”. Because of this, many men struggle to define their masculinity and themselves as men in a culture that can stigmatize things like sexuality, aggressiveness or dominance.
Read MoreBeyond the more common benefits of exercise - improving cardiovascular health and overall strength - exercise and movement can buff up our brains, too. Known as a natural mood booster, exercise is proven to increase our endorphin levels, naturally lifting our mood. In fact, mindful exercise and movement therapy are both frequently integrated into many mental health treatment plans. It can help us manage symptoms of depression, reduce cognitive issues and alleviate anxiety and stress.
Read MoreThe controversy surrounding adolescent sexual education has been going on for years. Many oppose it all together, where other programs might focus solely on abstinence-only-until-marriage messaging; failing to provide young individuals with basic information on disease-preventing methods, unintended pregnancies, sexuality, and pleasure. Down the road, this can have an effect on how you handle relationships. How you handle boundaries and consent. How you handle desires.
Read MoreOnline dating and social media can be tough to navigate. Naturally, both can bring about fear and suspicion that the person you are chatting with might not be who they say they are. This can create feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, depression and fear of the unknown. Once someone is emotionally-invested, these experiences (even if not in-person) can lead some of us to question our future decision making capabilities, causing trust issues and even emotional/psychological damage.
We have more access to news than ever before – mainstream news channels, social media platforms, radio and podcasts. We also have more ways to consume this information – laptops, computers, phones, tablets, Alexa (the list goes on). Right now, it can be hard to stop scrolling through our newsfeeds and timelines for constant updates about what’s going on in the world. It's scary stuff and you can often get sucked in, easily. There are multiple ways to protect and improve your mental health during times like this (remember, you’ve already gotten through two years of the pandemic – you’re stronger than you think)!
Being a man or male identifying person can leave someone feeling a little off or confused about how they “should” act. Many of you have heard the term Toxic Masculinity - the adherence to the limiting and often dangerous societal standards set for men and male-identifying individuals. Typically (not always), these socially regressive male traits have caused men to eject actions that might undermine their ideas of what it means to be a real man. So, how do we tackle toxic masculinity in our current culture and reframe masculinity in a healthier way?
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