Vivid Imagery Hypnosis & Talk Therapy

09/16/2026

Trauma survivors often feel safer with animals than with people—and there can be a very real reason for that.

Trauma can teach the nervous system to constantly look for changes in the environment: a shift in someone’s tone, a facial expression, an unexpected silence, or anything that might signal rejection, conflict, or danger.

Animals can offer something beautifully different.

They don’t make you question where you stand.

They don’t withdraw affection to punish you.

They don’t twist your words.

They don’t expect you to explain why you’re having a hard day.

They simply show up.

There is comfort in that predictability. The dog curled beside you today is the same dog who was thrilled to see you yesterday. The cat who chooses your lap doesn’t need you to find the perfect words first.

For someone whose nervous system learned that love could be unpredictable, consistency can feel profoundly safe.

Animals don’t ask you to be less complicated before they love you. They don’t need you to have healed everything first.

Sometimes healing begins quietly—with a warm body beside you, a head resting in your lap, and the experience of realizing you can let your guard down for a little while.

And sometimes, after spending far too long surviving relationships with people, one of the safest forms of love arrives with four paws and fur. 🐾

09/08/2026

08/19/2026

Because of the high-profile trial so many people are currently following, there has been a great deal of conversation about postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same condition.

As a mental health professional, I think it is important that we talk about the difference being careful not to diagnose or speculate about any individual involved in a particular case, but to help people better understand these very real and treatable mental health conditions.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Postpartum depression (PPD) is more than the temporary sadness, tearfulness, or emotional changes commonly called the “baby blues.”

PPD may include:

👉 Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
👉 Significant anxiety or excessive worry
👉 Loss of interest or pleasure in things once enjoyed
👉 Difficulty bonding or feeling connected with the baby
👉 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or inadequacy
👉 Changes in sleep or appetite beyond what would normally be expected with a newborn
👉 Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
👉 Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities
👉 In severe cases, thoughts of death or self-harm

Postpartum depression can significantly interfere with a person’s ability to function and care for themselves or their baby. It is treatable, and treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, social support, or a combination of approaches.

POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

Postpartum psychosis is much rarer but considerably more acute and dangerous. It typically develops suddenly, often within the first days or weeks after childbirth, and should be treated as a psychiatric medical emergency.

Symptoms can include:

👉 Hallucinations — hearing, seeing, feeling, or sometimes smelling things that are not actually present

👉 Delusions — strongly held beliefs that are inconsistent with reality

👉 Paranoia or unusual suspiciousness

👉 Severe confusion or disorientation

👉 Manic symptoms — unusually elevated or irritable mood, racing thoughts, increased activity, rapid speech, or feeling as though sleep is unnecessary

👉 Severe depressive symptoms

👉 Rapid or extreme changes in mood

👉 Significant insomnia or dramatically decreased need for sleep

👉 Disorganized or unusual behavior

⚠️ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Although both conditions can be serious, postpartum psychosis involves psychotic symptoms and significant disturbances in a person’s perception or interpretation of reality.

Postpartum depression primarily involves symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and does not, by itself, involve psychosis. This distinction matters because postpartum psychosis requires immediate medical evaluation and treatment.

🧠 WHO IS AT RISK?

Postpartum psychosis has been associated with certain risk factors, particularly:

• A history of bipolar disorder
• A previous episode of postpartum psychosis
• A personal or family history of certain serious mood or psychotic disorders

However, it is important to understand that postpartum psychosis can also occur in someone who has no previously diagnosed mental health condition.

The postpartum period involves profound biological, hormonal, psychological, and sleep-related changes, and researchers continue to study how these factors interact.

POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS IS TREATABLE

Someone experiencing postpartum psychosis is not simply being “dramatic,” behaving badly, or failing as a parent.

They are experiencing a serious medical and psychiatric condition.

With appropriate treatment, people can and do recover.

However, because postpartum psychosis can create a significant risk of su***de, accidental injury, or harm to the infant, symptoms should never be ignored or treated as something that will simply pass on its own.

If you believe someone may be experiencing postpartum psychosis—especially if they appear confused, paranoid, disconnected from reality, are hallucinating, expressing unusual beliefs, behaving unpredictably, or talking about harming themselves or their baby—seek emergency medical care immediately.

Call 911 or your local emergency service, or take the person to the nearest emergency department.

Most importantly, conversations surrounding high-profile cases should not cause people experiencing postpartum mental illness to feel ashamed or afraid to ask for help.

Postpartum mental illness is not a character flaw. It is not a measure of someone’s love for their child. And asking for help should never be a source of shame.

Education, early recognition, compassionate intervention, and appropriate treatment can save lives. ❤️

08/15/2026

A dead battery can’t jump another dead battery. Get away from people who can’t charge you when you need a jump.

07/20/2026

As a therapist, I see firsthand the deep wounds that standard conversations about relationships often overlook. The adult entertainment industry thrives by selling a fake illusion of intimacy. It offers connection without the hard work of vulnerability, communication, or accountability. Unfortunately, when the screen turns off, real partners are left to deal with the emotional fallout.

This industry generates billions of dollars, but the true cost is paid in human currency: depleted mental health, fractured self-worth, and a profound loss of trust within relationships.

Furthermore, we must acknowledge the severe toll on the performers themselves, many of whom face systemic coercion and exploitation that impacts their physical and psychological well-being.

If your relationship is struggling under the weight of this impact, please know you are not alone and the pain you are feeling is valid. Healing is possible and I can help!

❤️🖤