Robyn E Brickel MA, LMFT, LLC

08/28/2026

Self-care is important. And sometimes, self-care alone isn’t enough.

Taking a bath, going for a walk, getting more sleep, or taking a day off can all be meaningful ways to care for yourself. And if you’ve spent years learning to ignore your needs, stay busy, avoid asking for help, or push through discomfort, self-care can feel difficult to access in the first place.

Trauma can shape the way we understand our own needs. What looks like “bad self-care” may actually be a coping strategy that once helped you feel safe or get through something overwhelming.

You might find yourself constantly overscheduled, struggling to ask for help, dismissing your physical or emotional needs, having difficulty resting, or feeling like you have to handle everything on your own.

Healing can mean moving beyond simply coping and beginning to understand what you actually need to feel supported, grounded, and well.

We wrote about this topic in depth: 9 Signs You Need Better Self-Care and May Be a Trauma Survivor. If you’ve ever wondered why caring for yourself feels harder than it should, it may be worth exploring what’s underneath the struggle.

Our team uses a trauma-informed approach to help clients develop greater self-understanding, compassion, and healthier ways of caring for themselves. https://ow.ly/nCL650ZEnaC

08/27/2026

The idea of an “autoimmune personality” can be misleading, but research suggests there may be a meaningful connection between chronic stress, trauma-related survival patterns, and autoimmune disease. People-pleasing, perfectionism, and overachievement are not personality flaws or direct causes of illness; they can be adaptations to prolonged stress and overwhelm.

Research has linked stress-related disorders and adverse childhood experiences with increased autoimmune risk, while ongoing stress may affect how the body regulates inflammation. A trauma-informed perspective looks at these patterns with compassion rather than blame, recognizing that they may have developed as ways of coping and creating safety. Learn more, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/autoimmune-personality-real-why-people-pleasers-develop-apigian-uvy7c.

Dr. Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH The short answer The pattern is real, and it is well documented.

08/27/2026

Do you feel like you pull away when someone gets close to you?

You may want connection deeply yet find yourself creating distance when a relationship begins to feel more intimate. You might become uncomfortable with vulnerability, feel the urge to withdraw, or suddenly question the relationship when someone gets closer.

This can be confusing, especially when you genuinely care about the other person.

For some people, pulling away can be connected to past experiences with relationships, attachment, or trauma. If closeness once felt unsafe, unpredictable, overwhelming, or connected to hurt, your nervous system may have learned that creating distance is a way to protect yourself.

That doesn’t mean you’re incapable of intimacy or that something is wrong with you. These patterns often developed for a reason.

In therapy, we can become curious about what happens when connection starts to feel vulnerable. What are you afraid might happen? What do you notice in your body? What stories do you tell yourself about needing someone or being needed? And what would it take to experience closeness while still feeling like yourself?

Healthy relationships don’t require you to abandon your boundaries or independence. They create space for both connection and autonomy.

Whether you’re navigating conflict with a partner, struggling with intimacy, or noticing the same patterns repeating across relationships, therapy can help you better understand your relationship patterns and build new ways of connecting.

We provide trauma-informed psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families (relationship therapy) in Old Town Alexandria, VA, for individuals, couples, and families.

08/27/2026

I came upon on a great resource for clinicians and loved ones - Navigating Grief After Su***de with David Kessler - in case you or anyone you know may benefit.
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Find compassionate guidance and practical tools for navigating grief after su***de loss with grief expert David Kessler and Christine Yu Moutier, MD (Chief Medical Officer, AFSP).

08/26/2026

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences—and one of the most misunderstood. It is often spoken about as something we are meant to “move through” or “get over.” Yet grief does not follow a predictable timeline, and healing does not mean that a loss stops mattering. Learn more, https://mailchi.mp/a752e77f43fe/are-you-finding-it-difficult-to-feel-safe-and-connected-in-todays-world-6431961

08/26/2026

Sometimes timing has a way of making a message even more meaningful.

Ironic timing, perhaps, that the article we had planned to share today is about grief, loss, and the ways we carry what—or who—we have lost.

Today, as so many people around the world are grieving the loss of Dolly Parton, we are reminded that grief isn't reserved only for the people we know personally.

We can grieve artists who shaped our lives.
People whose music accompanied us through important moments.
People whose kindness, humor, generosity, or presence somehow made the world feel a little brighter.

Dolly Parton was one of those people for so many.

And that kind of loss can feel surprisingly personal.

Grief is complicated. It doesn't always follow a predictable path, and it isn't something we simply “get over.” Our relationships, memories, experiences, and the meaning we made from them can continue to influence how we experience loss long after someone—or something—has left our lives.

Sometimes a loss can also stir up earlier losses, old wounds, or feelings we thought we had already worked through.

That is part of what we explore in our newest article:
Understanding the Impact of Loss—and the Path Toward Healing: Grief and Loss Through a Trauma-Informed Lens.

If you are grieving today, whether the loss is recent, many years ago, or unexpectedly stirred by the loss of someone you never personally knew, be gentle with yourself.

There is no “right” way to grieve.

And sometimes, the people who touched our lives from a distance leave a very real imprint.

Rest in peace, Dolly. 💛

Read the full article: https://ow.ly/FUp750ZFyn5

Understanding the Impact of Loss—and the Path Toward Healing Grief and Loss Through a Trauma-Informed Lens Grief is one of the most universal human experiences—and one of the most misunderstood. It is often spoken about as something we are meant to “move through” or “get over.” Yet grief...

08/25/2026

Why am I so exhausted all the time?

Sometimes exhaustion isn’t simply about not getting enough sleep. When your nervous system has been under stress for a long time, your body may remain in a state of heightened alertness, even when there’s no immediate danger.

Chronic stress, anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and constantly feeling responsible for others can all take an emotional toll. You may find yourself feeling tired even after resting, struggling to concentrate, becoming easily overwhelmed, or feeling like you’re constantly running on empty.

For some people, slowing down can actually feel uncomfortable. If your nervous system has learned to stay busy, productive, or prepared as a way of creating safety, rest may feel unfamiliar, or even undeserved.

A trauma-informed approach looks beyond the exhaustion itself. Therapy can help you explore what may be keeping your nervous system activated, recognize patterns that developed for a reason, and begin creating more space for rest, regulation, and connection.

You don’t have to wait until you’re completely burned out to ask for support. If you’ve been wondering why you feel so exhausted all the time, therapy can be a place to slow down and explore what your mind and body may be trying to tell you.

Our office offers trauma-informed psychotherapy in Old Town Alexandria, VA. We’re here when you’re ready. Visit our website to learn more and schedule an appointment with our team. www.brickelandassociates.com

08/24/2026

Trauma-responsive psychotherapy is about more than talking about what happened.
It’s about creating a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe enough to explore your experiences, understand your responses, and move toward healing at a pace that feels right for you.

Trauma can affect the way we relate to ourselves, our relationships, our bodies, and the world around us. You may notice anxiety, emotional overwhelm, disconnection, difficulty trusting others, perfectionism, relationship challenges, or feeling constantly on guard. These responses often developed for a reason.

We approach therapy with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment. We consider the ways trauma, attachment, the nervous system, and life experiences can shape how you move through the world, while recognizing the strengths and resilience you bring with you.

Healing doesn’t require you to forget what happened or force yourself to move forward before you’re ready. It can begin with understanding, connection, and developing a greater sense of safety within yourself.

If you’re looking for trauma-informed therapy in Old Town Alexandria, our team is here to help. Visit our website to learn more about trauma-responsive psychotherapy and our approach to care. https://ow.ly/K6Pu50ZEna3

08/23/2026

What happens when mental health struggles take center stage?

Stories have the power to change the way we understand one another. Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen brought social anxiety, depression, grief, loneliness, and the need for connection into the spotlight, helping open important conversations about mental health.
One of the most powerful reminders from stories like this is that people are wired for connection. Behind the smiles, accomplishments, and social media posts, many people are carrying struggles that others may never see.

Social anxiety can make someone feel invisible, misunderstood, or afraid to reach out. And healing often begins through connection, the moment someone feels seen, heard, and accepted.

Reducing the stigma around mental health means creating more space for honest conversations. It means recognizing that anxiety, trauma, grief, and emotional struggles are part of the human experience, and that support is available.

You don’t have to wait until things feel impossible to ask for help. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, relationships, or life transitions, therapy can provide a safe space to reconnect with yourself and others.

You are not alone. Connection is where healing begins. Visit our website to learn more, and schedule an appointment with our Old Town Alexandria, VA team if that feels right for you. https://ow.ly/bqIW50ZA8uI

08/21/2026

Do you want to join a team where trauma-informed care extends beyond the therapy room?

Healing happens through safety, connection, and trust, not only for our clients, but for our clinicians too.

We’re growing our team and seeking a Virginia-licensed therapist or resident interested in or already trained in EMDR to join our trauma-informed psychotherapy practice in Old Town Alexandria, VA, serving clients throughout Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC area.

If you’re searching for a clinical home, you may be asking:

• Will I receive referrals?
• Will I feel supported?
• Will I continue growing as a trauma therapist?

We believe those questions matter.

Our practice was built around the idea that therapists do their best work when they have the support, collaboration, and resources they need to provide meaningful care. We’ve created a culture where consultation, connection, and continued learning are part of everyday life.

Our work is grounded in attachment theory, the brain-body connection, strengths-based care, and ethical trauma treatment. We support individuals, couples, and families navigating trauma, complex PTSD, anxiety, dissociation, relationship challenges, and life transitions.

If you’re an EMDRIA Basic Trained clinician who values thoughtful pacing, collaboration, client safety, and meaningful trauma work, we’d love to connect.

Interested in joining our team? Learn more or apply through our website, www.brickelandassociates.com/employment.

And if you know a therapist looking for a supportive clinical community in Alexandria, VA, please share this opportunity with them.