mental health therapy, therapy intensives, healing journey Sara Walter Shihdanian mental health therapy, therapy intensives, healing journey Sara Walter Shihdanian

Breaking the Myth: Therapy Intensives Are for Everyone, Not Just in Crisis

When you hear the phrase ‘therapy intensive,’ you might imagine someone in the middle of a breakdown. But that’s only part of the picture. Therapy intensives aren’t just for emergencies—they’re for anyone who’s ready for a reset. More and more, clients are using them proactively—for clarity, momentum, and deeper healing — on their own timeline!

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Avoidance And Activation

When it comes to our mental health struggles, many of us have perfected the art of the dodge. We're talking about a deep-rooted pattern that keeps us haunted by the same painful themes or issues, never quite breaking free. Avoidance is the mind's automatic self-protection system. It's what happens when our brain decides, "This feeling is too scary, this memory too painful—let's go anywhere else, immediately!" And in the short term, it works brilliantly. That’s the problem.

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Let It Transform You: The Creative Power of Anger

Many of us have been taught to fear our anger. We learn early that anger invites violence or danger, that it's an emotion best suppressed or avoided. This widespread misunderstanding does us a tremendous disservice, cutting us off from one of our most potent creative resources. When anger is properly channeled, it offers extraordinary creative potential that too many of us have been conditioned to dismiss.

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trauma, mental health therapy, healing journey, grief, gratitude Sara Walter Shihdanian trauma, mental health therapy, healing journey, grief, gratitude Sara Walter Shihdanian

Grief: The Dark Side of All Growth Work

When we embark on a journey of personal growth—whether through therapy, self-help, spiritual practice, or simple life experience—we're often sold the sunny side: transformation, liberation, authenticity, and wholeness. The glossy promises of becoming our "best selves" fill bookshelves and social media feeds.

What rarely makes the marketing materials is the unavoidable companion to all meaningful growth: grief.

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trauma, mindfulness, mental health therapy, healing journey Sara Walter Shihdanian trauma, mindfulness, mental health therapy, healing journey Sara Walter Shihdanian

Devotion Over Discipline, Or Why Motivation Ain’t Shit

Motivation is a thrilling spark, a burst of energy that propels us into action. It’s that intoxicating moment of inspiration when we feel like we can conquer anything—a new fitness goal, a creative project, a career move. It arrives in an almost magical and captivating way, often unbidden, pushing us forward with enthusiasm and excitement. But inevitably, it fades. And we are left wondering why we don’t feel quite as excited as we did before. Soon enough, if we rely solely on motivation, we cycle through disappointment several times before we may feel our our goals beginning to slip away, gathering dust alongside abandoned resolutions and forgotten ambitions.

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What’s the Difference Between Transgender and Non-Binary Genders?

The way we talk about gender identity has become more detailed and inclusive, reflecting a broader understanding of how people experience and express themselves. While they both fall under gender diversity, they represent unique identities and experiences. Let's dive into what makes them each unique and how we can all better understand and support each other.

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