Growing up in a household with alcohol or substance abuse can leave deep emotional imprints. As an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACoA), you may carry patterns that once helped you survive but now create challenges in your relationships, career, and self-esteem. Recognizing these traits is the first step. Navigating them with self-compassion is how healing begins. Browse our...[ read more ]
Breathing exercises are everywhere. From mindfulness apps to therapy sessions, from yoga classes to well-meaning friends, the advice to “just take a deep breath” is often offered as a universal remedy for stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. And for many people, it helps. But what if it doesn’t? What if being told to focus on your breath actually makes you feel...[ read more ]
San Francisco has long been a city of contrasts—tech innovation alongside counterculture movements, fast-paced nightlife alongside serene wellness retreats. It’s no surprise that in this dynamic environment, attitudes toward substance use, sobriety, and recovery are equally diverse. For many, San Francisco offers opportunities for self-exploration and healing. For others, the same scene can contribute to patterns of overuse or dependency....[ read more ]
You don’t need to completely unplug from technology to have a healthier relationship with it. But in a world where screens are integrated into almost everything—work, socializing, entertainment, even relaxation—it’s easy to lose track of how much time you’re actually spending online. For many, the goal isn’t to quit technology altogether, but to be more intentional with how and when...[ read more ]
You might feel it—the creeping exhaustion from endless scrolling, the pressure to always be available, the realization that your day is shaped more by notifications than by your own intentions. Maybe you’re considering a digital detox, hoping to regain balance, focus, or just a little bit of peace. But then reality sets in. Your job requires you to be online....[ read more ]
How we begin our morning shapes the tone for the rest of the day. For many of us, mornings feel rushed—waking up to alarms, scrolling through notifications, and mentally running through a to-do list before even stepping out of bed. But what if, instead of diving into the chaos, we started with something simple yet profoundly grounding? Breathing. Morning...[ read more ]
This is a guest blog post by associate therapist Erin Boyle. In this post, she shares insights from her personal journey of reconnecting with her body, explores the challenges many face in feeling "body-less," and offers practical tools and therapeutic approaches to foster a deeper mind-body connection. You can learn more about Erin from this interview and see Erin's therapist...[ read more ]
In the practice of Gestalt therapy, chair exercises like the empty chair and two-chair techniques offer unique, experiential ways to engage with emotions, confront challenges, and process complex experiences. As therapists in San Francisco often incorporate these methods, people in the Bay Area who are searching for “gestalt therapy near me” can find meaningful, strengths-based support in this modality. Here,...[ read more ]