Writing on the patterns underneath everyday emotional life, from the psychologists at Coastal Therapy Group.
The archive
Cognitive defusion is the ACT skill of seeing a thought as just a thought. A Carlsbad psychologist explains what fusion costs you, what defusion feels like, and a few ways to practice it.
Culturally sensitive therapy is more than competence. A licensed psychologist on what cultural attunement actually feels like, and how to find it.
Acceptance and commitment therapy, explained from inside the room. A Carlsbad psychologist on what ACT actually is, how the six processes work in real sessions, and who it tends to help.
PMS, PMDD, and premenstrual exacerbation are not the same. Naomi Wu, PsyD explains the differences, the warning signs, and when to seek help.
Your menstrual cycle can shape your emotional life in real and noticeable ways. Naomi Wu, PsyD on how the cycle affects your emotions, what the medical model leaves out, and when premenstrual distress is worth listening to.
Defense mechanisms are the mind's automatic ways of protecting itself from feelings that seem too dangerous to feel. Sean Noe, PhD explains splitting, projection, repression, and more in plain language.
When a teen's faith starts to shift, it doesn't mean something has gone wrong. A relational look at how identity and faith develop in adolescence.
Many women don't experience trauma symptoms until years after the original event. Learn why delayed trauma surfaces and when therapy can help.
When I tell people I run a DBT skills group, I usually get one of two reactions. Either a blank look (what's DBT?) or a careful, slightly alarmed pause, because the person has heard of DBT and associates it with something serious. A diagnosis. A hospitalization. Someone they knew in college who was going through a really hard time. Both…
Psychologist Reid Kessler, Psy.D. explains why AI chatbots can't replicate the therapeutic relationship, drawing on Bion, Winnicott, Benjamin, and Harlow's research. Coastal Therapy Group, North County San Diego.
A psychotherapist reflects on how a Broadway show revealed the power of nonverbal emotional experience and what it teaches us about the connection between our bodies, feelings, and the moments when words fall short.
Discover what a process group is, how it works, and who benefits. Real Talk is an ongoing adult interpersonal process group focused on connection, insight, and growth.
Discover how relational therapy deepens self-understanding and supports healthier relationships. Learn what to expect and how this approach differs from CBT.
How self-compassion practice transforms shame, deepens relationships, and helps us live closer to our values.
Explore Asian American mental health and how culturally sensitive therapy helps build healing, belonging, and identity across cultures.
Dr. Naomi Wu shares insights on culturally compassionate therapy for Asian American clients, covering stigma, family dynamics, acculturation, and trauma-informed care.
Dr. Gabriel Lowe explores what healing from religious trauma looks like — from acknowledging pain and reclaiming agency to rebuilding a meaningful life.
What is transference in therapy? Dr. Jean Jho explains how feelings toward your therapist can reveal patterns from your past and deepen your self-awareness.
Each loss is unique. "Secondary losses" and "mediators of mourning" shape our grief. Understanding these can help you work through your grieving process.
Grief can be confusing and overwhelming. The "Four Tasks of Mourning" help us understand our pain, questions, and fears. Check out the blog to learn more.
Being present with our loved ones in their suffering can be difficult. This post explores how advice giving can impact our loved ones who are in pain.
How do you help a partner with depression without burning out or making it worse? A San Diego psychologist on presence over solutions, and four ways to support someone you love.
Dr. Reid Kessler explains how understanding your anxiety — not just managing symptoms — is the key step to lasting relief. Discover why anxiety is a warning light worth exploring.
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