Marta Muntean, LCSW - Therapist

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United States
Anchorage, AK
Marta Muntean, LCSW - Therapist

Licensed therapist | Specializing in trauma, grief, dissociation | Anchorage + Telehealth (AK only)
martamunteanlcsw.com

08/24/2026

August often brings a season of adjustment.

As schedules change and routines return, it's easy to wish we could hold onto summer just a little longer.

One of the foundational ideas of mindfulness, as described by Jon Kabat-Zinn, is paying attention **on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.**

Mindfulness invites us to notice what is, rather than immediately wishing it were different. Acceptance doesn't mean we have to like every circumstance. It simply means we're acknowledging reality as it is, allowing us to respond thoughtfully rather than resist what we cannot change.

As you adjust to this new season, perhaps begin there.

Notice this moment.
Accept this moment.
Then decide how you'd like to move forward.

08/21/2026

This month marks 15 years since I started my career as a therapist.

I still remember walking into a community mental health clinic as a brand-new clinician in August 2011, recently out of grad school. I was uncertain of my skills, had so much to learn, and really had no idea where this career would take me.

Fifteen years later, I’m incredibly grateful for how much I’ve grown, and for the many lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people through some incredibly difficult seasons, and of witnessing courage, resilience, healing, grief, and hard-fought growth. This work has shaped me, both as a therapist and as a person.

I’m grateful for the path that brought me here, and for every person who has trusted me with a part of their story.

15 years in, I’m still learning, still growing, and still deeply grateful that I get to do this work.

Summer 2011 • Banner Creek, Nome, Alaska

08/17/2026

Someone once said to me,

"I hope your clients take your advice."

It made me smile.

While there are certainly times when therapists offer guidance, share ideas, or provide education, that's only a small part of the process.

Therapy is more often about helping people better understand themselves, recognize patterns, process difficult experiences, and discover solutions that fit their own lives and values.

If therapy were simply about advice, change would probably happen much more quickly.

Instead, therapy creates space for curiosity, insight, healing, and growth.

The answers people are looking for aren't always something another person can tell them. More often, they're discovered through the process itself.

08/10/2026

"Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different?"
— C. S. Lewis, "Prince Caspian"

Sometimes growth is so gradual that we don't notice it until we pause and look back.

How have you grown over the past year?

08/03/2026

August already?! I'm not quite ready. I'd love to stretch summer out a little longer, but some things are simply beyond our control.

Instead of wishing for more time, let's make the most of the time we have. Enjoy your morning coffee without rushing. Take a walk and appreciate the beauty around you. Put your phone down for a few minutes and be present.

The moments that stay with us are often the ones we fully experience. Here's to savoring what's left of summer.

07/27/2026

As July comes to a close, take a moment to pause.

Our minds naturally focus on what's left to do, but intentionally practicing gratitude is good for our mental health. It helps shift our attention toward what is good, meaningful, and life giving.

Before welcoming August, what's one thing from this past month you're thankful for?

07/20/2026

Some of the most meaningful changes happen unnoticed. Setting a boundary. Pausing before reacting. Feeling your emotions instead of avoiding them. Asking for help. Showing yourself compassion.

Healing isn't always dramatic. Often, it's quiet, steady, and unfolding in ways you may not even recognize yet.

If your progress doesn't look the way you expected, don't assume it isn't happening. Sometimes the strongest roots grow where no one else can see them.

07/19/2026

Following up on my last post, I wanted to share a bit more about why change can be so hard. This blog explores what's happening in the brain and why lasting change often takes time. I hope you find it helpful! https://martamunteanlcsw.com/why-is-change-so-hard-understanding-the-brains-well-worn-paths

07/13/2026

While walking my dog recently, I noticed two paths through the grass. One was well worn, obvious, and easy to follow. The other was newer, less defined, and looked as though only a few people had walked it.

It reminded me of something I hear often in my therapy office.

"I tried that coping skill, and it didn't work."

Or...

"I know what I should do. Why do I keep doing the same thing?"

These are honest, understandable questions. Many people assume that if a coping skill doesn't help the first time, they're doing it wrong or it simply doesn't work.

But our brains don't usually change after one attempt.

Just as a path through a field becomes clearer each time it's walked, new neural pathways are strengthened through repetition. The first time you practice a grounding exercise, set a boundary, or respond to yourself with compassion instead of criticism, it may feel awkward or ineffective. That doesn't mean it's failing. It may simply mean you're walking a path that hasn't been traveled very often yet.

07/06/2026

If you live in Alaska, you probably know the feeling. Summer arrives, and suddenly there's pressure to do it all. Go fishing. Fill the freezer. Go camping. Hike every trail. Work in the garden. Stay up late because it's finally sunny. Make memories. Don't waste a beautiful day.

For many Alaskans, summer isn't just a season of recreation. It's also a season of preparation. Whether you're putting fish away for winter, harvesting from the garden, or simply trying to soak up every long day, there can be an unspoken pressure to fit it all in.

Then, almost as quickly as summer arrives, we pass the summer solstice. Before long, someone reminds us we're already "losing daylight," and it can feel like the countdown to winter has begun.

Summer is a gift, but it doesn't have to become another source of pressure.

You don't have to do everything to have a meaningful summer. Your season may look different this year because of work, parenting, finances, grief, health, or simply needing rest.

Give yourself permission to enjoy the summer you have, not the one you think you should be having.

Wishing you a wonderful Alaska summer, and for those working toward their subsistence goals, I hope your efforts are safe, fruitful, and rewarding.

Address

Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage 99503
Anchorage, AK
99503

Website

http://www.martamunteanlcsw.com/

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