Sequoia Counseling Center
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As humans, we are all connected by what are called universal longings or universal needs. Examples of these needs might be safety, stability, connection, love and belonging, and purpose. When these needs struggle to be met whether due to societal culture, isolating events, or relationship issues, technology presents as a seemingly harmless solution. We might turn to social media apps, designed to interact with the reward centers in our brains, stream a movie or TV series for

The holiday season can be a wonderful time filled with celebration, family, and tradition. However, it's also notorious for bringing stress, anxiety, and overwhelming expectations. Whether you’re hosting gatherings, shopping for gifts, or balancing work and family, holiday stress can creep in and dampen your enjoyment. Data from the American Psychological Association indicates that 89% of individuals report heightened stress levels during this period, and approximately 64% of

We turn away from death.  Someone else  handles the dead.  Someone else  makes the arrangements.  Someone else  takes care of it.  We don’t deal with it.  This makes me wonder: Does turning away from the process of death hinder our grief?  She’s got a smile that it seems to me Reminds me of childhood memories  Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky  Looking death in the eyes was the most selfless thing I could have done. Instead of having the veterinarian deal w

We all carry pieces of our past with us. For some people, those pieces are light and warm, shaping happy memories and a sense of “I’m...

When we begin therapy, we often want to focus on what's happening right now — the anxiety, the relationship struggles, the patterns...

A Calling I Never Expected When I lost my job in June of 2017, I was feeling discouraged and disoriented. My career up until that point...

“He’s such a narcissist.” “Stop gaslighting me.” “That triggered me.” “I’m OCD.” “She’s bipolar.”  In recent years, conversations around...

Where do you even find friends as an adult? When we are younger, we are more likely to have opportunities to form friendships. This is...

For many kids and teens, body image isn’t just about how they look but also about how they feel about themselves. When a child develops a...

For those of us with ADHD, there is often this all-too-familiar experience of feeling misunderstood by others. Sometimes, “others” are...

As a child, I never thought about the connections I had with others and how I showed up in relationships. I had never analyzed the...

“What if I had called one more time just to check in? What if he didn’t know how loved he was before he died? What if she would not have...

Mental health as a whole is a largely discussed topic at this current moment in time. We have come a long way in how we view mental...

Most of us know that self-care is important. We try to make it happen but it seems like we never have the time. Between working, raising...

Couples tend to think they cannot find the time to go on dates with their partner. When we fall into the routine of everyday living, we...

One of the best ways to relax and unwind at the end of a long day is by watching a movie. Movies create a myriad of emotions for people....

If you are like a lot of people, you may hear a song that describes the holidays as “the most wonderful time of year” and immediately...

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, admits the hustle and bustle it is crucial not to negate...

The term, ‘gaslighting’ has been tossed around a lot on the internet lately, to the point where I wonder if people know what it actually...

Let’s be real – screens and social media are pretty much part of our everyday lives now. Screens are a big part of how we work, play, and...