Third Nature Therapy

02/05/2024

Going to therapy, taking care of your well-being, and investing in personal growth in the individualist, capitalistic culture of the US is expensive.

And I don't think enough people acknowledge this.

Hoping this article, that I co-wrote with Dani Miranda for Psychology Today, sheds some light on the cost of "personal growth" in the US and how much money and time it takes to foster well-being when our society lacks the micro and macro moments of connection and care.

Are therapy and yoga classes enough to solve the mental health crisis in our culture? I think not. But curious to hear what you think!

Imagining well-being that’s long-term and free of cost.

01/09/2024

The best way to navigate resistance in therapy sessions?

Name it.

Your resistance doesn't have to go away. In fact, it's actually welcomed.

Resistance is a helpful protector that often shows up when therapy is going WELL.

Your resistance can indicate that you are getting somewhere deep, and it's showing up as a learned coping skill to keep you safe.

You don't have to hide your resistance from your therapist; instead, name it.

Bring it up in sessions and use it as a helpful tool to go even deeper into your healing work.

Remind yourself that all of you is welcomed in therapy sessions.

Follow along to start learning how to befriend your resistance and start truly healing.

12/12/2023

Stop viewing dating apps' first meetings as dates and start viewing them as POTENTIAL dates.⁠
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I hear so many clients and friends getting discouraged that dating app dates suck. ⁠
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And I get it. It does suck getting your hopes up, getting dressed up, traveling to and from a date for it to be a total bust and a waste of time. ⁠
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But I also wonder what would happen if expectations were lowered just a bit and shifted toward first-date potential instead. ⁠
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What if, when you went to meet someone from Hinge, instead of viewing it as a date, you viewed it as a POTENTIAL date?⁠
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You allowed yourself to get excited about them AFTER you met in person.⁠
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Because, whether we like to admit or not, so much about dating lives in our biology. We desire a partner because we’re wired to have a mate. And we can’t truly connect with our biology or wiring over a screen. ⁠
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So, the next time you decide to meet someone from a dating app, allow yourself to enter the experience with a bit more primal curiosity. ⁠
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Is this someone you could get excited about going on a date with? ⁠
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Get excited about them AFTER you meet them in person. ⁠
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You get to decide if it’s even someone you’d like to date. ⁠
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Start to TRUST your intuition and your nervous system IRL. It won’t steer you wrong.⁠
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If you want more tips on feeling like the most authentic, alive version of you on dates, follow along 🫶

11/10/2023

Going on bad dates that leave you feeling depleted is the worst.⁠
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If you've been going on dates every week, putting in the effort, doing the scary work of putting yourself out there, but are still left feeling disconnected and hopeless about finding a partner, I see you. ⁠
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And I'm here to tell you there's another way. ⁠
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You can say no, prioritize time alone, connect with yourself, and still find a partner. ⁠
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Going on a ton of dates that leave you feeling disconnected will only continue the cycle of disconnection.⁠
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Instead, make these shifts to feel more connected to yourself and, thus, the people you choose to go on dates with. ⁠
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-Only say yes to dates that allow you to still take care of yourself. Commit to showing up as your most present and regulated self. Say no to dates that bring you out of connection with the regulated version of you.⁠
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-Let go of the myth that dating is a "numbers game." The real work is dating WHILE staying connected to yourself. There's no # connected to that (in fact, the number of dates that allows you to do that is probably A LOT lower than what you're doing).⁠
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-Pay attention to the experience of YOU on the date. Stop people pleasing and making it about them. Pay attention to if the person allows you to connect with your highest self, and if not, see what you can do to reconnect with yourself in those moments.⁠
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-Set time boundaries with yourself. Try not to let first dates go over two hours. Enjoy the mystery of getting to know someone while being boundaried with your time.⁠
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-Have a wind-down routine when you return from a date. Make yourself a warm beverage, journal, and/or meditate. Do something to transition out of the external and back into the internal.⁠
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Feeling connected on dates is more than possible once you prioritize connecting with yourself. ⁠
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If you want more tips on feeling like the most authentic, alive version of you on dates, follow along 🫶