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Anxiety is one of the most common struggles, but it can look different for everyone. Some of the common signs are restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating or your mind going blank, fixation on problems large and small, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep).

 Transitions are hard. Whether you are a new graduate or retiree, a new parent or empty nester, a new kid in the neighborhood or the last one to move, change involves loss. Transitions can fill us with fear of the future and sadness of losing parts of our past. Having help navigating all these feelings can ease these transitions and set us up for success in our new world.

Depression is also a daily struggle many of us face. Depression signs include feeling discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life in general. When these feelings last for more than two weeks and when the feelings interfere with daily activities such as taking care of family, spending time with friends, or going to work or school, it can be depression instead of just "the blues".

Most of us know about “Big T” trauma such as intimate partner violence, childhood abuse, and rape. However, we can also experience “Little T” trauma, which can be much more subtle but impact the brain in a similar way. These may include divorce, bullying, and serious illness. Complex trauma is ongoing, sustained trauma. Examples include ongoing child abuse/neglect, sustained and repeated racism, multiple losses, and chronic illnesses.

There are so many factors that can impact our relationships including attachment wounds, trauma, mistaking differences for deficits, communication struggles, and difficulty regulating our emotions. These factors contribute to unhealthy patterns and dynamics such as over-functioning/ under-functioning partnerships, anxious/avoidant partnerships, high control or overly permissive parenting, Narcissistic abuse, and shame/blame family culture.

Loss is an unavoidable result of living. We cannot love without loss eventually touching us. Few things can turn our worlds upside down like loss. It can bring so many mixed feelings that are overwhelming. We can feel stuck and alone in the pain and unsure how to find our way out. We are not meant to grieve alone, but few people are well equipped to walk with us through that pain.