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Why Change Feels Scary (Even When It's Good)
Article Contents Why Does Change Feel Scary? The Hidden Grief of Life Transitions How Change Affects Your Mental Health Missing Your Old Life Is Normal How to Cope With Change When to Seek Support Frequently Asked Questions Have you ever looked forward to something for months — starting a new job, moving into a new home, getting engaged, becoming a parent, or sending your child off to college — only to find yourself feeling anxious once it actually happens? It can be confusin

Dani Spongé
Aug 265 min read


The End-of-Summer Blues Are Real — Here's Why
Article Contents Why the End of Summer Feels Different The Psychology of Seasonal Transitions Signs You May Be Experiencing the End-of-Summer Blues Gentle Ways to Ease Into a New Season When It May Be Time to Reach Out Frequently Asked Questions As August comes to a close, you might notice a subtle shift in your mindset. It may happen as you notice the evenings get darker a little earlier. Store shelves fill with school supplies, sweaters, and pumpkin-flavored everything. Ca

Dani Spongé
Aug 214 min read


Why Change in Routine Can Feel So Disruptive for Neurodivergent People
Article Contents Why Routine Matters What Happens When a Routine Changes It's Not About Being "Rigid" Gentle Ways to Navigate Change When Extra Support Can Help Frequently Asked Questions Most people have experienced the frustration of having their plans unexpectedly change. Maybe a meeting was canceled at the last minute. Maybe traffic made you late for work. Maybe your favorite coffee shop closed for the day. It can be inconvenient, but for many neurodivergent people, a sud

Dani Spongé
Aug 194 min read


What No One Tells You About Being a First-Generation College Student
Article Contents What Being First-Generation Really Means The Pressure to Succeed Feeling Like You Don't Belong Balancing Two Different Worlds Caring for Your Mental Health When to Ask for Support Frequently Asked Questions Starting college is a major life transition for anyone. New routines, new expectations, new friendships, and often a completely new environment can feel overwhelming. But if you're a first-generation college student, those challenges can come with extra pr

Dani Spongé
Aug 144 min read


How to Create a Routine That Fits Your Life (Not Someone Else's)
Article Contents Why "Perfect" Routines Don't Last Build Around Your Real Life Give Yourself Permission to Adjust When Support Can Help Frequently Asked Questions If you've ever searched for tips on creating a healthier routine, you've probably seen some version of the same advice. Wake up before sunrise. Exercise every morning. Meal prep every Sunday. Journal every night. Drink more water. Meditate. Read. Stretch. Get eight hours of sleep. On paper, it sounds wonderful. In r

Dani Spongé
Aug 123 min read


Do You Compare What You Eat to Others? Here’s Why It Can Hurt
Article Contents Why Do We Compare What We Eat? The Dangers of "What I Eat in a Day" Videos How Food Comparison Can Affect Body Image Pay Attention to How Your Feed Makes You Feel How to a Build a Healthier Relationship With Food How Therapy Can Help “What I Eat in a Day.” You’ve probably seen the videos: Someone walks you through their morning coffee, breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, and maybe dessert — all neatly edited into a 60-second video. Some are posted by dietitians

Dani Spongé
Aug 76 min read


Sometimes Setbacks and Relapses Are a Part of Recovery
Article Contents What Does Relapse Mean in Recovery? Common Reasons People Experience Relapse How to Respond After a Relapse Recovery Is a Journey, Not a Destination How Therapy Can Help After a Relapse You were doing well; maybe you hadn’t had a drink in months. Maybe you stopped engaging in a behavior you were trying to change. Maybe you finally built a routine that made you feel more like yourself. Then something happened. Maybe one bad day became two. An old coping mechan

Dani Spongé
Aug 74 min read


Where Do GLP-1 Medications Fit Into Mental Health & Healing?
Article Contents GLP-1 Medications and Body Image When Your Body Changes Faster Than Your Mind Your Relationship With Food Navigating Comments About Your Body GLP-1 Medications and Mental Health The Role of Therapy FAQs GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now. You often hear about Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and similar medications at the doctor's office, on social media, in conversations with friends, or even from celebrities discussing their experiences. And while much of

Dani Spongé
Aug 55 min read


Is Financial Stress and Anxiety Taking Over Your Life? Here's How to Cope
Article Contents What Is Financial Stress and Anxiety? Why Money Worries Can Feel So Overwhelming Signs Financial Stress Is Affecting Your Mental Health Why Financial Stress and Anxiety Can Feel So Overwhelming 4 Healthy Ways to Cope With Financial Stress and Anxiety How It Can Affect Your Relationships When Should You Seek Help? Money is a part of nearly every aspect of our lives. It affects where we live, how we care for ourselves and our families, the opportunities availab

Dani Spongé
Jul 315 min read


Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships: Are You Missing the Signs?
Article Contents Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships Orange Flags You Should Pay Attention To Red Flags You Shouldn't Ignore Why Do We Miss Red Flags Sometimes? How Attachment Styles Can Affect Relationships If You're Unsure: Questions to Ask About Your Relationship Whether it's a summer romance, a relationship that's lasted for years, or someone you've just started getting to know, it's natural to wonder: Is this relationship actually healthy? Social media is full of advice

Dani Spongé
Jul 295 min read


Why Asking for Help Is Self-Care (And Why It's So Hard)
Article Contents Why Asking for Help Is Hard What Happens When You Carry Everything Alone Signs It's Time to Ask for Help Small Ways to Practice Asking for Help How Therapy Can Help We often hear that self-care means taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, journaling, or unplugging from social media. While those things can absolutely be helpful, self-care isn't always relaxing—and it isn't always something you do by yourself. Sometimes, one of the most meaningful acts of self

Dani Spongé
Jul 244 min read


Accessible Mental Health Care: Why Accessibility Is More Than a Ramp
Article Contents What Does Accessible Mental Health Care Mean? Emotional Safety = Accessible Care Not Every Barrier is Visible What to Ask Before Choosing a Therapist When most people think about accessibility, they picture wheelchair ramps, elevators, or accessible parking spaces. Those features matter, but accessible mental health care goes far beyond physical access. True accessible mental health care means creating an environment where people of all abilities, identities,

Dani Spongé
Jul 223 min read


The Hidden Mental Load of Planning Family Vacations
Article Contents: What Is the Mental Load? Why Vacation Planning Can Feel So Stressful Signs You're Carrying Too Much How to Lighten the Mental Load For many families, summer vacation is supposed to be a chance to relax, reconnect, and make lasting memories. But for the person planning the trip, getting there often feels like a full-time job. Choosing a destination. Comparing hotel prices. Booking flights. Coordinating schedules. Packing for everyone. Making sure medications

Dani Spongé
Jul 174 min read


Why Parents Feel Burned Out During Summer Vacation
For many families, summer is supposed to be a time for relaxation, fun, and making memories. But for parents, the reality often looks very different. Between managing childcare, juggling work responsibilities, coordinating activities, and trying to keep everyone entertained, many parents find themselves feeling overwhelmed before summer is even halfway over. If you've noticed yourself feeling exhausted, irritable, or emotionally drained, you're not alone. There are many reaso

Dani Spongé
Jul 154 min read


Living With a Disability: The Mental Health Side We Don't Talk About
Article Contents: Disability Is More Common Than Many People Realize The Mental Health Connection Self-Esteem Can Be Complicated Grief and Disability Can Coexist What Helps People Thrive? Therapy Isn't About "Fixing" a Disability Every July, Disability Pride Month celebrates the strength, resilience, and diversity of the disability community. It's a time to recognize disability as a natural part of human diversity—not something to hide or "overcome." Yet while conversations o

Dani Spongé
Jul 105 min read


Why Your Anxiety & Mood May Feel Worse During Summer Heat Waves
Article Contents Heat Can Trigger Your Body's Stress Response Heat Also Places Extra Stress on Your Brain How Anxiety Can Look Different During a Heat Wave Heat Can Affect Your Mood, Too How to Support Your Nervous System in Extreme Heat When It's Time To Seek Extra Support If you've noticed yourself feeling more irritable, overwhelmed, or anxious during this summer's extreme heat, you're not imagining it. Across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, many people are e

Dani Spongé
Jul 84 min read


Why Fireworks Can Feel So Overwhelming After PTSD (And How to Cope)
Fireworks can be overwhelming for people living with PTSD, anxiety, or past trauma. Learn why loud noises trigger the brain, what anticipatory anxiety looks like, and practical ways to cope during the Fourth of July.

Dani Spongé
Jul 34 min read


Dopamine Chasing Explained: Why Summer Can Leave You Feeling Restless
Article Contents What Is Dopamine? The Summer Dopamine Chasing Trap Short-Term vs. Long-Term Dopamine How to Increase Dopamine Naturally How to Break the Cycle Summer is often painted as the happiest time of year: Vacations, beach days, backyard barbecues, concerts, long weekends, and spontaneous adventures fill our social media feeds. We're told these months should feel carefree, exciting, and full of memories. So why do so many people end the summer feeling oddly dissatisfi

Dani Spongé
Jul 15 min read


Seasonal Affective Disorder Isn't Just for Winter: Understanding Summer Depression
Why summer can feel hard, signs to look for, and when it's time to seek support.

Dani Spongé
Jun 234 min read


Why More Fathers Are Feeling Burnout: The Mental Health Impact of Modern Fatherhood
Many fathers today aren't struggling because they care less. They're struggling because they care deeply and are trying to balance more responsibilities than ever before. Understanding the mental health of fathers means recognizing the invisible pressures many dads carry every day.

Dani Spongé
Jun 193 min read
ACR Counseling Blog
Insights for Real Life
Practical mental health resources, therapy perspectives, and conversations that meet you where you are. Explore our latest thoughts on wellness and growth.


Feeling More Tired Than Usual? Here's Why
Sometimes you are tired because you stayed up too late. Sometimes you are tired because your alarm went off far earlier than you would have preferred. And sometimes you are tired even though you technically got enough sleep. That last one can be particularly frustrating. If you have been wondering, “Why am I so tired?”, there may be more going on than simply needing another cup of coffee. Fatigue can have physical, emotional, behavioral, and environmental causes, and figuring
1 day ago4 min read


Daylight Saving Time Ends Soon — Here's What It Can Do to Your Mental Health
Twice a year, we change the clocks and then spend the next few days asking everyone around us what time it actually is. The fall time change can be particularly noticeable because it changes when daylight appears and disappears. While one hour may not seem like a big deal, your body does not operate entirely according to the clock on your wall. It also has its own internal timing system, known as the circadian rhythm. That internal clock helps regulate sleep and wakefulness a
4 days ago4 min read


Seasonal Affective Disorder vs. the “Fall Blues”: What's the Difference?
There is something about the first genuinely cold morning of fall that can make summer feel very far away. The days get shorter, the weather changes, routines shift, and suddenly...it's dark before dinner. For some people, those changes are simply an adjustment. You might feel a little less energetic or miss the longer days of summer without experiencing a significant change in your overall mental health. For others, the arrival of fall and winter can bring a recurring patter
Oct 154 min read


Mental Health in the Latino Community: Breaking the Stigma Around Therapy
Read this article in Español For some people, the hardest part of starting therapy is not finding a therapist. It is admitting that they want one in the first place. Mental health can be a complicated subject in many families and communities. Cultural expectations around family, strength, privacy, religion, and self-reliance can all influence how someone understands emotional struggles and whether they feel comfortable asking for help. That does not mean every Latino person e
Oct 129 min read


5 Signs You Might Be Experiencing Burnout
Everyone gets tired. Everyone has stressful weeks. Sometimes work is overwhelming, your calendar is packed, and you spend your evening wondering how it is somehow already time to do it all again tomorrow. That does not necessarily mean you are experiencing burnout. Burnout develops differently. The World Health Organization describes burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It involves exhaustion, in
Oct 84 min read


World Mental Health Day: What It Means to Actually Take Care of Your Mind
Every year on October 10, World Mental Health Day gives us a reason to talk about something that tends to get pushed to the side the rest of the year: how we are actually doing. Mental health awareness has come a long way, but knowing that mental health matters and actually taking care of our own mental health are two different things. It is easy to share a post about self-care or tell someone that it is okay to ask for help. It can be considerably harder to admit that we mig
Oct 55 min read


The Language of Home: Why Bilingual Therapy Can Feel Different When You Speak Your Native Language
You can speak English every day. You can work in English, text your friends in English, and have no trouble expressing yourself. Then someone speaks to you in your native language, and something can shift. A familiar phrase might bring back a childhood memory. A word might express a feeling more naturally. Or there may simply be a sense of being understood without having to explain as much. Language is more than communication. For many bilingual and multilingual people, it is
Sep 305 min read


Suicide Warning Signs: What to Look For and How to Help
Talking about suicide can feel extremely frightening. You may worry that bringing it up will make things worse, say the wrong thing, or make someone feel uncomfortable. But if you're concerned about someone, staying silent usually isn't the best approach. Knowing the suicide warning signs can help you recognize when someone may be struggling and give you a starting point for checking in. You don't need to be a mental health professional to notice that something has changed or
Sep 257 min read


The Purpose of Emotions: Yes, Even Uncomfortable Feelings Matter
Sometimes, emotions can be...uncomfortable. Anxiety can make your stomach drop. Anger can leave you feeling tense and restless. Sadness can make even simple things feel exhausting. And sometimes, you may wish you could simply turn certain feelings off. But what if uncomfortable emotions aren't actually the problem? Every emotion serves a purpose. That doesn't mean every emotional reaction is perfectly proportionate to the situation, or that every feeling needs to dictate what
Sep 188 min read


Recovery Isn't Linear, and That's Completely Normal
The truth is that recovery can be messy. You might have a few really good weeks and then suddenly find yourself struggling again. Something you thought you'd moved past may come back up. A stressful event may leave you feeling like you've lost progress. You may even wonder, “Why am I back here again?” But recovery isn't a straight line. Whether you're recovering from substance use, an eating disorder, trauma, depression, anxiety, or another difficult experience, progress can
Sep 168 min read


Anniversary Reactions: Why Certain Dates Can Bring Back Difficult Memories
Certain dates can carry a lot of emotional weight. For many people, September 11 is one of them. Each year, as the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, people may find themselves experiencing emotions, memories, or physical reactions they weren't expecting. This can be especially true for people who were directly affected by the attacks, lost someone, witnessed the events firsthand, lived in or around New York City or Washington, D.C., or simply remember what it felt l
Sep 117 min read


Should You Talk to Your Child About 9/11? 5 Tips Every Parent Should Read
September can bring a lot of reminders of 9/11. Memorials appear in the news. Schools may discuss the attacks. Children may overhear conversations or encounter videos and images online. And for parents, that can create an uncomfortable question: Should I talk to my child about 9/11, and how much should I tell them? If your child wasn't alive on September 11, 2001, you may wonder whether they need to know about it at all. If they are older, they may already have heard about it
Sep 94 min read
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