Alisa Hafkin, LCSW

06/17/2026

You’ve probably heard of FOMO, or the “fear of missing out,” but this isn’t just a catchy phrase to explain away pangs of disappointment. Feeling like the world is moving on and you're being left behind is a real and uncomfortable sensation for many people. It’s vital to work through those emotions so that you can create a plan to move forward and achieve goals that are realistic for you.

06/08/2026

Did you know that gardening can boost your mental health? By nourishing plants and working with your hands, you can improve self-esteem, gain a sense of accomplishment, and enjoy an overall feeling of wellness.
Even if you don’t have an outdoor area to garden, potting and tending to indoor plants can be just as beneficial and can make your space feel more peaceful.

It's a new year, so it’s that time that many of us wonder what we can do to improve ourselves. Whether you're looking to increase physical exercise, improve general health, or make positive mental health changes, gardening is a great way to achieve all of these things!

06/03/2026

Being the partner of someone struggling with alcoholism can take a significant toll on your mental and physical health. If you have children, the toll becomes even more evident and painful as the family system suffers. It’s important to remember to take care of yourself and, with the help of a therapist, develop strategies to heal from the impact of the situation in a safe and healthy way.

If you are married to an alcoholic, try to work things out together. It is possible, with careful, respectful, and supportive effort.

05/25/2026

The need for community involvement has been greater than ever in recent years. Not only does it benefit your neighbors and society when you volunteer, but it can also vastly improve your mental health. If you have been feeling stuck, isolated, or hopeless, volunteering is an awesome way to boost your mood and give back to those who need it most.

Explore the transformative power of civic engagement and volunteering to improve mental and emotional health.

05/19/2026

Bringing home your new baby is one of life’s most joyful milestones, yet it can also come with heavy feelings of anxiety, exhaustion, and sadness. Many new mothers feel disconnected from their baby and from life, and therefore feel like something is wrong with them. In reality, postpartum anxiety is more common than most people realize, and with the right support, new mothers can begin feeling relief from those difficult emotions.

05/13/2026

We are living in an era where any given day can feel heavy, and it seems that something dramatic is always occurring. This constant barrage of bad news can bring up feelings of burnout, anxiety, and loneliness. If you are struggling with these emotions, you are not alone, and therapy could be a helpful outlet for you to vent your feelings and develop healthy coping strategies.

When everything costs more and even small talk feels exhausting, welcome to the age of “gas-fogging,” where social pressures quietly convince us our distress is personal failure.

05/08/2026

Many high achievers are wracked with anxiety, with a tendency to overthink worst-case scenarios and measure themselves against the highest of expectations. The drive to do more and be the best can quietly chip away at your sense of peace, even if you are hitting achievements. You don’t have to choose between success and feeling good inside, and therapy can help you find inner peace.

As a high achiever, you drive yourself to succeed, and you usually do succeed. But you may also experience anxiety associated with that success. You want peace of mind, but you don’t want to give up everything to find it. … Continue reading →

04/27/2026

Feeling disconnected from your own life isn’t a character flaw, but often a sign that your nervous system has not yet learned that it’s safe to settle. Simple, intentional habits like daily rituals, keeping promises to yourself, and speaking honestly about your needs can powerfully shift how safe and grounded you feel. Teaching your nervous system that you are allowed to take up space in your own life is an important, transformative step toward healing.

Three ways to stop feeling like you're constantly performing in everyday life.

04/23/2026

With everything that is happening in the world right now, it’s natural to feel the weight of things that are out of your control. Research has shown that one of the most effective ways to improve your mental health is to redirect that energy toward helping others. Volunteering not only benefits your community, but it has measurable positive effects on mood, stress levels, and your overall sense of purpose.

Counselors and psychiatrists have known for years that volunteering and serving others can help improve mental health and decrease depression symptoms.

04/15/2026

Most of us know that a bad night of sleep can throw off our entire day, but the connection between sleep and mental health runs much deeper than that. Research shows that people with insomnia are significantly more likely to experience depression and anxiety, and the relationship between the two goes in both directions, meaning poor sleep affects mental health and mental health affects sleep. If you have been struggling with either, it’s worth paying attention to both to help find a solution.

Stanford Medicine researchers explain how sleep influences our moods and the ‘bidirectional’ nature of that relationship — plus how we can repair broken slumber to improve our mental health.