Center for Mindful Psychotherapy is a non profit collective of approximately 100 Associate Marriage and Family Therapists in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can learn more about each of them from perusing our Therapist Directory. In our Conversations with Clinicians series, we interview therapists in more depth. They share more about the work that they do, the clients that...[ read more ]
In our Conversations with Clinicians series, we interview therapists in more depth. They share more about the work that they do, the clients that they work with, their inspirations, passions, personal interests and more. Today, we're talking with Rachel Lefkowitz Parnes. Rachel's journey to becoming a therapist is one of profound personal transformation. She first became aware of her own...[ read more ]
In this post, we share a video from associate therapist Phoenix L. Quetzal DeLeon demonstrating a simple yet powerful somatic practice for shoulder tension relief, and explore why our typical approach to relaxation often backfires. Plus we share some of the neuroscience behind why working with contrast, rather than against your body, creates lasting change. Why Trying to Force Relaxation...[ read more ]
It's 3 AM and you're lying in bed, mind spinning with tomorrow's presentation, next month's rent, and that conversation from last week that you can't stop replaying. Your body is tense, your breathing is shallow, and despite being exhausted, sleep feels impossible. You're caught in what feels like an endless anxiety loop. Your mind is jumping between past regrets and...[ read more ]
Emotional boundaries are often the most subtle—and most essential—part of maintaining healthy open or polyamorous relationships. While physical boundaries (like time, touch, or space) are more tangible, emotional boundaries define your inner world: your values, your energy, your self-respect, and your emotional safety. In polyamorous dynamics, it’s easy for emotional boundaries to blur. You may feel pulled between multiple people’s...[ read more ]
Jealousy is one of the most emotionally charged topics in relationships. It’s a word that can stir up shame, fear, defensiveness, or guilt—especially in polyamorous and non-monogamous dynamics, where freedom and trust are central values. Many people believe that if they were truly "evolved" or "secure," they wouldn’t feel jealous at all. But that’s not how emotions work—and it’s not...[ read more ]
Polyamory and other forms of ethical non-monogamy are often portrayed as progressive, inclusive, and liberatory. But for many queer and BIPOC individuals, the experience of navigating polyamory can still be deeply shaped by systemic oppression, cultural invisibility, and marginalization—even within communities that consider themselves open-minded. If you're queer and/or BIPOC and exploring non-monogamy, you may find yourself wrestling with layers...[ read more ]
For many people, the path to understanding their relationship orientation isn’t linear. You might be in a monogamous relationship but find yourself wondering about other possibilities. Or maybe you've always felt that monogamy doesn't quite fit—but you’re unsure whether that means you’re polyamorous, simply open to exploration, or somewhere else on the spectrum. It’s common to feel uncertainty, curiosity, even...[ read more ]
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 ]