If you've been searching for a therapist who practices Internal Family Systems (IFS), you may have come across a range of terms on therapist profiles — Level 1 trained, Level 2, IFS Certified — and found yourself wondering what any of it actually means. It's a genuinely confusing landscape, and you're not alone in finding it hard to parse.

IFS is a growing approach, and more therapists are studying it every year, which is good news for anyone seeking this kind of work. Here's a straightforward breakdown of what the terminology actually means.

Especially for women, the answer is a resounding YES. In my psychotherapy practice, I get a number of women clients who casually say "i think its just my hormones" without knowing exactly what that means, or how to address a potential hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance has become a catch all phrase for explaining seemingly inexplicable physical and mental symptoms that women often experience. The truth is, it really could be that your hormones are out of balance.

Mindfulness has become a mainstream idea, practice and even prescription to deal with a number of modern day ailments -  states of feeling bad, uneasy, anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, disconnected and joyless. But just what is mindfulness and how can it help you feel better, live a more fulfilling life and even escape from feeling anxious or depressed?

Mindfulness has been defined by many great teachers and scholars, and the way I distill it is this: it is being present to the moment as it unfolds with an attitude of curiosity and acceptance.

When you are feeling really bad, like you'd prefer to be hiding under a rock, it can feel like you don't have the energy or fortitude to get through the maze of finding and selecting the right helper.  Yet it is important and even vital to seek help when you need it. So today's post is meant to give you some guidance to help make your process as smooth and painless as possible. (This post addresses individual therapy. In a future post I will address specifics related to finding a couple or family therapist.)

In my work with couples, I lean heavily on three well respected couples/relationship theorists: John & Julie Gottman (The Gottman Method), Daniel Wile (Collaborative Couples Therapy) and Sue Johnson (Emotion Focused Couples Therapy). In future posts I will talk about Dan Wile's approach as well as Sue Johnson's - both are excellent models for couple work and I love sharing them. Today I will start by laying out some of the basic work of the Gottmans. Their work is easy to grasp, powerful and backed by a mountain of research.

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health issues in the US and affect 1 in 5 people according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC.) Most people at some time will experience symptoms of one or both. And half of those who deal with depression, experience  anxiety as well. You may wonder what is the difference between the two and when should you seek help? In this post I will lay out some basic information about depression and anxiety and some signs that you should seek professional guidance.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between professional titles for those who offer psychotherapy and counseling services? At times it can be downright confusing, and yet if you need a professional helper it is an important question: Who is qualified to help me with some of my most personal, private and pressing problems? In this post I will try to shed some light on the key differences between the professional titles you are likely to find here in California when seeking out counseling or therapy from a mental health practitioner.

As the weather turns warm and people turn to outdoor pursuits, I am reminded of the importance to the human spirit of spending time in recreation. Over fifteen years ago, I remember a business consultant advising the small business where I worked. We all worked a lot and he was talking with us about the importance of recharging and renewing - for the health of the business. He reminded us that the word recreation means to "create again" and said we would be more valuable as employees if we could commit ourselves to making time for recreation.