What If I Don’t Want to Believe I Was in a Cult? If you read my guide on high-control environments and religious trauma , and felt uneasy at the idea of being in a “cult,”  you are absolutely not alone. Many people experiencing religious trauma, purity culture harm, or spiritual abuse struggle with that word, sometimes more than anything else. And that hesitation isn’t a sign that you’re exaggerating. It’s a sign that your nervous system is trying to protect you. Before we ex

You hold yourself to impossible standards. You push yourself harder than anyone else ever would. You don’t celebrate your wins because you’re already focused on what’s next. You feel like no matter how much you achieve, it’s never enough . On the outside, it looks like you have it all together. But on the inside? You’re exhausted, anxious, and always waiting for the moment when you finally feel worthy . If this sounds familiar, you’re not just dealing with high standards, y

Setting boundaries sounds healthy in theory. But in practice, it can feel isolating, guilt-ridden, even punishing. Boundaries are supposed to protect you, yet they often leave you feeling cut off. Why does doing the healthy thing sometimes feel so bad? Why Setting Healthy Boundaries Can Feel Lonely Emotional Consequences of Setting Boundaries Unspoken contracts are invisible rules and expectations that exist (usually in families, but sometimes in friend dynamics as well). The

A trauma-informed guide using the BITE Model Power & Control Wheel If you're healing from a high-control religious environment or religious trauma, recovering from purity culture, or leaving a high-control environment, you may feel confused by the way your body reacts. Many people describe anxiety, perfectionism, chronic self-doubt, relationship struggles, hypervigilance, shame, or difficulty trusting themselves long after leaving a high-demand religious group. This guide exp

You second-guess every decision. You struggle to know if your feelings are valid. You wonder if you can even trust your own mind. If trauma has made you doubt yourself, you’re not alone. One of the deepest wounds trauma leaves behind is self-distrust. Maybe you ignored your gut feeling once and something bad happened. Maybe someone you trusted betrayed you, leaving you unsure of your own judgment. Maybe you were taught that your thoughts, feelings, and instincts weren’t relia

If your chest tightens when someone starts quoting Scripture... If a worship song makes your stomach drop... If the word “obedience”...

You keep telling yourself it wasn't that bad, or others had it worse. If that's true, why can't you shake this feeling? This ache? The wondering if you'll ever feel "normal." Maybe you watch some of the many documentaries on Netflix about cults and spiritual abuse and you feel confused. Something resonates deep within even though you never lived their lives. Or maybe weren't even a part of that particular religion. If this leaves you feeling confused, let's take a look at w

If you've tried therapy before and it didn't help you make any lasting changes, or any changes at all, it can be a lonely place feeling like you're stuck with your pain forever. The truth is, there are many reasons therapy might not have worked in that season of your life: the timing, the type of therapy, or even the therapist themselves. As a trauma therapist in Las Vegas offering EMDR therapy , Ketamine Assisted Therapy , and Psychedelic Integration , I often work with cli

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has become one of the most trusted and effective trauma therapies available today....

You tell yourself it’s just to take the edge off. Maybe it’s a drink to unwind, a pill to fall asleep, or hours spent scrolling,...

Faith was supposed to feel like home. It was supposed to offer safety, love, and belonging. But instead, it may have left you questioning...

You don’t feel much anymore. Not sadness. Not joy. Not even anger. Just a dull sense of going through the motions. Life feels muted, like...

You wake up already tired. Conversations feel like too much. You’re just trying to get through the day, but even the things that once...

Guest Post by ADHD One Understanding the Co-occurrence of PTSD and ADHD PTSD and ADHD frequently co-occur, especially in individuals...

My puppy Miley (12 years ago!) learning to listen to me and gain impulse control. Many people come to therapy not knowing what to expect. Relief can happen pretty quickly, and it’s also common to feel exhausted, emotionally drained, and even a little confused about why healing feels so demanding. Trauma-focused therapy can feel challenging, and often that's actually a sign that deep healing is happening. For many people, this exhaustion shows up when a nervous system that has

You want to trust. To feel safe with someone. To believe that love can be consistent, secure, and lasting. But no matter how much you...

Do you constantly worry that the people you care about will leave?Do you feel anxious in even healthy relationships, overanalyze texts,...

Guest Post from Silver State Mental Health The use of ketamine in mental health care has expanded rapidly in recent years, especially...

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can be life-changing — but only when it’s held within a safe, intentional space. In this post, I break down what it really means to create a “container” for healing (no, not the Tupperware kind), and why your mindset and environment matter as much as the medicine itself. Whether you're new to psychedelic therapy or just craving something more grounded and human in your healing work, this one's for you.

You fall for someone who seems promising. At first, they’re engaged, interested, and giving you just enough to feel hopeful. But then—slowly or suddenly—they pull away. Maybe they avoid deep conversations. Maybe they send mixed signals, keeping you guessing. Maybe they disappear when things get too close emotionally or physically. And somehow, this pattern keeps repeating. If you keep attracting emotionally unavailable people, it’s not  because you’re unworthy of love. It’s o