Nicole Duckett, “Therapy Mama”

06/10/2026

Meet “Natasha” (IYKYK 😉)

What was originally meant to be a simple, self-soothing tool quickly became a favorite (and protected) item among clients in my therapy room. I became curious as to why this is and here’s what I realized: humans naturally attach meaning, safety, and comfort to physical objects, therefore the pillow is providing therapeutic space for healing.

✨It provides physical comfort and a focal point for nervous system self-regulation
✨It activates attachment and security because many people associate soft objects with experiences of comfort, caregiving, nurturing, and protection.
✨It creates a sense of emotional containment by providing an object to “hold” vulnerable emotions (while also giving permission to be vulnerable)
✨It encourages grounding through the senses by inputing texture, weight, pressure, and shape.
✨It becomes symbolic of the therapeutic relationship, associating it with feeling heard, understood, accepted, and emotionally safe.

How cool that something as simple as a pillow can create emotional safety, relational connection, and inner community in such a profound way. 💕

06/08/2026

Soft addictions are those behaviors that seem harmless, but are often used to avoid emotions (such as boredom) or discomfort. This can look like doom-scrolling, binging TV, overworking, constant busyness, over-shopping, and more. After awhile, soft addictions can quietly consume your time, energy, and emotional presence. If you notice yourself engaging in these mindless consumption activities, take a minute to assess for the deeper unmet need and explore a more intentional way of meeting that need.

05/29/2026

I can’t verify this is completely true, but I definitely thought it was interesting when I saw it and research does show there are commonalities in where people experience emotion. Emotions are a whole-body experience where the brain and body respond together.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk also introduced the concept of how trauma is stored in the body when he wrote his book The Body Keeps The Score based on his own clinical experience and research.

Interoception is our ability to notice sensations inside the body. Research suggests improving awareness of this can help with emotional regulation, anxiety management, trauma recovery, and self-understanding. This is why mindfulness, somatic therapies (like EMDR), yoga, and breathwork are so powerful.

Where do you tend to notice your emotions being held in your body?

05/27/2026

Sometimes what empowers you is to consider what you actually have control over and focus your energy on that. ☀️

05/22/2026

But it works 🤷🏼‍♀️ 😂

05/20/2026

Did you know humans are the only animals who cry out of emotion?

We have 3 different types of tears: basal, reflex, and emotional

💧Basal tears are for lubrication of the eye
💧Reflex tears are for washing away irritants
💧Emotional tears are for a cathartic, emotional release. These tears are different because they contain a higher concentration of hormones and neurotransmitters.

This part is COOL: Emotional tears contain leucine-enkephalin, which is a a natural painkiller and stress reliever! This means, when you cry, your body is naturally responding to self-soothe and self-heal!!

Crying is your body’s built-in release and reset system. Your body is regulating itself, it knows what it’s doing. Let it do its job 🫶🏼

05/15/2026

You deserve space.
You deserve to exist.
You deserve to matter.

05/11/2026

I love this short video that explains meditation. It doesn’t have to be a complicated exercise, just simply focusing on your breathing and redirecting your thoughts when you get distracted. Let me know what you think!

18K likes, 660 comments. "Meditation 101: A Beginner's Guide"

05/08/2026

As I get closer to the anniversary date of my years in private practice, I’ve been reflecting on the privileges I experience and value in this position:

🤍 To be invited into someone’s story
🤍 To witness resilience
🤍 To hold space for pain
🤍 To celebrate growth
🤍 To walk alongside people while they heal and rediscover themselves

Therapy isn’t about “fixing” people, it’s about creating a safe space where people can feel seen, heard, understood, and empowered.

I’m grateful for every client who trusts me with their vulnerability, their hope, and their journey. The courage it takes to show up and do the work is something I deeply respect.

With that being said, I’m always striving to continue growing and improving upon my therapeutic skills. To those who have been in some form of therapy: what are things you liked/didn’t like or felt was helpful/unhelpful in your experience?

05/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness month 🫶🏼