Amy Kersten, LCSW

09/04/2026

You never really know what someone is carrying.

Someone can smile, go to work, take care of their family, answer texts, and show up for everyone else—while quietly struggling inside.

Mental health struggles aren't always visible.

Sometimes they look like:
• Overthinking everything you said
• Feeling exhausted even after resting
• Smiling when you want to cry
• Constantly worrying about letting people down
• Going through the motions while feeling disconnected
• Being there for everyone else while having nothing left for yourself

Just because someone looks like they’re doing okay doesn’t mean they feel okay.

And if this is you, you don't have to keep carrying it alone.

Your struggle is real, even when no one else can see it. Asking for support isn't a sign of weakness. It’s a way of taking care of yourself.

You deserve support, space, and a place where you don't have to pretend you're okay.

08/27/2026

When Anger Shows Up in Trauma Healing

Sometimes anger shows up when we begin doing trauma work.

You may feel angry about what happened.
Angry that no one protected you.
Angry at yourself for staying, freezing, or not knowing what to do.
Angry about the ways trauma changed you.

And that anger can feel uncomfortable—especially if you learned that anger was something to suppress, hide, or avoid.

But anger is not necessarily a sign that you are doing therapy “wrong.”

Sometimes anger is a part of healing. It can be your nervous system recognizing that something happened that was not okay. It can help you identify boundaries, unmet needs, injustice, and the places where you deserved better.

You don't have to judge your anger or act on every feeling it brings.

In trauma work, we can learn to make space for anger, understand what it is communicating, and choose how we want to respond.

Healing doesn't always feel peaceful.

Sometimes healing means finally allowing yourself to feel the things you weren't safe enough to feel before.

08/25/2026

Keeping the Peace at the Expense of Yourself

Sometimes keeping the peace means putting everyone else’s comfort ahead of your own.

You might:
• Say yes when you really want to say no
• Avoid difficult conversations
• Apologize for having needs
• Take responsibility for other people’s emotions
• Stay quiet when something hurts
• Go along with things to avoid conflict
• Constantly ask yourself, “How can I keep everyone happy?”

This can be part of the fawn response—a trauma response where we try to create safety by pleasing, appeasing, or accommodating others.

Maybe you learned that being agreeable kept you safe.
Maybe conflict felt overwhelming or unpredictable.
Maybe you became really good at noticing what everyone else needed while losing touch with what you needed.

But keeping the peace at the expense of yourself can leave you feeling exhausted, resentful, disconnected, or invisible.

Healing isn’t about becoming uncaring or selfish. It’s about learning that you don’t have to abandon yourself to maintain connection with someone else.

You can care about someone and still have boundaries.
You can disappoint someone and still be a good person.
You can say no without explaining yourself over and over.

You deserve relationships where there is room for your needs, feelings, and voice, too. 🤍

08/18/2026

Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Postpartum depression and anxiety are among the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth—and yet so many people suffer in silence.

It’s not a sign that you’re a bad parent. It doesn’t mean you’re not grateful for your baby. And it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.

You may feel overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, tearful, irritable, numb, or like you’re struggling to recognize yourself. These experiences are more common than you might think, and support is available.

You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. You deserve support, understanding, and a space to talk about what you’re experiencing.

💛 You are not alone.
💛 You are not failing.
💛 Asking for help is a strength.

08/12/2026

What Does Self-Care Really Look Like?

Self-care doesn’t always look like bubble baths, spa days, or taking a whole day off.

Sometimes self-care looks like:
✨ Saying no without overexplaining
✨ Taking a break before you reach your limit
✨ Eating something because your body needs nourishment
✨ Going for a walk or taking a few slow breaths
✨ Letting something be “good enough” instead of perfect
✨ Asking for help when you need it
✨ Setting a boundary that protects your energy
✨ Making time for something that brings you joy
✨ Resting without feeling like you have to earn it
✨ Paying attention to what you need instead of automatically putting everyone else first

Self-care is not selfish. It’s about noticing what you need and responding to yourself with care.

And sometimes, the most important form of self-care is giving yourself permission to be human. 💛

08/10/2026

What does your inner critic sound like?

Maybe it says:

“I should have done better.”
“Why did I say that?”
“I’m not doing enough.”
“Everyone else has it figured out.”
“I’m too much.”

Your inner critic can be loud, especially when you’re anxious, overwhelmed, or trying to protect yourself from making mistakes or disappointing others.

But a thought is not a fact.

You don’t have to fight your inner critic or believe everything it tells you. You can notice the thought, make space for it, and choose how you want to respond.

Try asking yourself:

“Would I talk to someone I love this way?”

If the answer is no, what might it look like to offer yourself a little more understanding?

You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of kindness.

08/06/2026

Have you ever caught yourself thinking:

"I'm too much."
"I'm a burden."
"People would be better off if I stayed quiet."

Those thoughts can feel so convincing that you begin to treat them like facts instead of noticing them as the voice of your inner critic.

Often, this inner critic developed for a reason. It may have learned that staying small, not asking for help, or putting everyone else's needs first felt safer. It was trying to protect you.

But those old messages don't get to define your worth.

You are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to have needs. You are allowed to reach out for support without apologizing for existing.

The next time your inner critic tells you that you're "too much," try pausing and asking:

✨ What if this is just a thought—not the truth?
✨ How would I treat someone I love if they felt this way?
✨ What would I choose if I didn't let this thought make the decision for me?

Healing isn't about getting rid of the inner critic. It's about learning that you don't have to let it be the loudest voice in the room.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/409MtpwDgK8mD6GFiHXsre?si=OBh7w4nNSYWswYtB4dfqxA

Let's Talk About Mental Health · Episode

08/04/2026

If you've experienced trauma, your nervous system may spend a lot of time on high alert.

That isn't because you're "too sensitive" or doing something wrong. It's because your body learned to protect you.

Supporting your nervous system doesn't have to be complicated. Healing often begins with small, consistent moments of safety.

✨ A slow exhale is one place to start.

When you make your exhale longer than your inhale, you're sending your body the message that, in this moment, it may be safe enough to soften just a little. It won't erase what you've been through, but it can help your nervous system begin to shift out of survival mode.

Other gentle ways to support your nervous system:
• Take one slow breath with a longer exhale.
• Notice the feeling of your feet on the floor.
• Let your shoulders drop away from your ears.
• Hold a warm mug or wrap yourself in a soft blanket.
• Look around the room and name five things you see to help orient yourself to the present.

Trauma healing isn't about forcing yourself to feel calm. It's about creating experiences of safety, one small moment at a time. With practice, these moments can help your nervous system learn that the present is different from the past.

Healing doesn't happen all at once. It happens through small acts of care, repeated over time.

07/30/2026

We are wired for connection.

Yet when anxiety, trauma, or self-doubt show up, our minds often encourage us to withdraw. We might tell ourselves, "I don't want to be a burden," "They probably don't want to hear from me," or "I'll reach out when I feel better."

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the goal isn't to wait until those thoughts disappear. It's to notice them, make room for them, and choose actions that move us toward the life and relationships we want.

If connection is something you value, ask yourself:

✨ What is one small step I can take today that moves me toward connection, even if my mind is telling me to stay away?

Maybe it's sending a text.
Maybe it's having an honest conversation.
Maybe it's joining a group, scheduling a therapy session, or simply sitting with someone you trust.

Connection isn't about never feeling anxious, vulnerable, or uncertain. It's about choosing to move toward what matters, even when difficult thoughts and feelings come along for the ride.

Healing often grows through connection—not because it makes life perfect, but because it reminds us that we don't have to face it alone.

💙 What is one small step you can take toward connection today?

07/28/2026

Making a decision that's right for you doesn't always feel good.

Sometimes choosing what aligns with your values means letting go of something that once mattered—a relationship, a dream, an expectation, or a version of life you hoped would be different.

It's okay to grieve that loss.

Feeling sadness doesn't automatically mean you've made the wrong decision. Grief and relief can exist at the same time. You can miss what was while still knowing that moving forward is the healthiest choice for you.

Part of psychological flexibility is making room for difficult emotions instead of treating them as signs that we should turn back. Emotions are information, not instructions.

You don't have to wait until a decision feels easy to know it's the right one. Sometimes healing includes grieving what you're leaving behind while continuing to take steps toward the life you want to build.

💙 It's possible to honor your loss and still choose yourself.