Holding Space: Understanding and Supporting Loved Ones Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts Loved ones who are struggling with suicidal thoughts require empathy, warmth, and an understanding of how to offer support. For many of us, the idea of a loved one grappling with suicidal thoughts is a heart-wrenching and complex challenge to navigate. As friends or…
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Trauma triggers can be a challenging experience for anyone who has gone through a traumatic event. Whether it’s the sound of a car backfiring, a smell that reminds you of the traumatic memory, or seeing a person who was involved, triggers can be both sudden and entirely unexpected. When triggered, intense feelings of anxiety, flashbacks,…
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Emotions are always out there waiting in the wings to visit us, whether we are ready or willing. You may be astonished at how many emotional states there are, and how regularly they visit us. Research shows that we typically experience 35 to 50 emotions as we go through each day. We humans are capable…
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Let’s talk Fear and get to know our Fear Brain: “Amy” the amygdala. Did you know that as humans, 90 percent of our present moment is informed by experiences from our past? These are the good, the bad, the ugly and even the unconscious! This is often not a bad thing, because a split-second decision…
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Changing our behavior is one on the hardest things we humans face. We are patterned creatures and we like the things with which we are comfortable. So much so that our brain will unconsciously push back on creating change. We especially avoid changing behaviors that are easy to do and that make us feel good…
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While the holidays bring terms to mind like joy, celebration, and togetherness, for some they can be a time of sorrow, loss, and loneliness. Many watch the celebration and excitement they see going on all around them and feel like they are watching from the sidelines, left out. These are the “holiday blues.” There are…
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By Dr. Kate Truitt In our practice we embody something we call Allyship, which is the foundation of our Affirming Therapy, but can also be part of a support structure of friends and family, not all of whom are necessarily within the LGBTQIA+ community. Allyship is based on a simple statement: “I don’t understand, but…
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By Dr. Kate Truitt with contributions from Rebecca Turner, LMFT “Good” parents all want the best for their children. Beyond fulfilling their basic needs, parents want their children to know they are safe, and they want to instill in them certain values and principles that they feel will make success more likely in all areas…
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As with many health practitioners in these times of safer-at-home orders, we are constantly asked whether we are still offering mental health services. The answer is definite: “Yes! We are here for you.” We at the Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles (TCCLA) are continuing to provide expert trauma therapy and counseling safely through telehealth…
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By Dr. Kate Truitt In our practice we have been talking a lot with our patients about being overcome by a strange new constellation of emotional experiences. They share the optimism they once had. They’re concerned they’re not living up to the expectations of other people in their personal and professional lives—much less the expectations…
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