Have you ever felt like you're constantly monitoring yourself around other people? Maybe you carefully think about what to say before speaking, or you watch how other people behave and try to follow their lead. You consciously remind yourself to make eye contact, smile, or show the "right" amount of enthusiasm. Perhaps you've become very good at appearing calm and capable, even when you're overwhelmed inside. For some autistic adults, this experience is known as masking. Masking can help...

When we think about grief, many of us picture the five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages are so well known that it's easy to assume grief is meant to unfold in a predictable order. You might wonder why you don't seem to fit the model, or even worry that you're "doing grief wrong." The truth is, grief is far more personal than that. While the five stages have helped many people understand that grief can involve a wide range of emotions, they were never...

If you're considering EMDR therapy, you might be wondering what actually happens during a session. Perhaps you've heard that EMDR involves eye movements or processing traumatic memories, but you're not sure what to expect, or whether it will feel overwhelming. These are completely normal questions. Starting any type of therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you've experienced trauma. Many people worry they'll be expected to relive painful memories or share more than they're ready to....