As a therapist, I often hear women say, “I don’t want to be a burden.” But when my son was sick and needed me constantly, I learned something powerful about what it means to be cared for — and why letting others in might be one of the kindest things we can do.

Rumination

Intuitive Eating is a powerful tool in mental health counseling for women struggling with overeating, binge eating, low self-esteem, and guilt around food. Many of these challenges stem from diet culture, emotional distress, and a history of restrictive eating patterns.

By focusing on body awareness, self-compassion, and rejecting food guilt, Intuitive Eating helps women rebuild trust in their hunger and fullness cues. In therapy, this approach supports emotional healing by addressing the underlying feelings that drive disordered eating patterns. It also empowers women to separate self-worth from body size and embrace a more balanced, nourishing relationship with food.

Through counseling, women can unlearn harmful food rules, break free from the binge-restrict cycle, and cultivate lasting mental and emotional well-being.

The Gottmans call this concept “turning toward” your partner, and it’s one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your relationship. It means making small, everyday choices to engage with your partner instead of ignoring or dismissing them.

And the best part? It doesn’t require grand gestures or hours of deep conversation. It’s the little moments—the quick good morning hug, the “How was your day?” text, the way you put your phone down when they start talking. These small choices add up over time and create a relationship built on connection and trust.

Struggling with anxiety, disconnection, or feeling misunderstood? At Clark Counseling, we specialize in supporting women through compassionate, tailored online therapy. Discover if one of our therapists is the right fit to help you find clarity, confidence, and connection again. Your journey toward healing starts here.

Using technology to escape or avoid a negative feeling can provide short-term relief, but does not lead to long-term healing or positive coping.  Alternatively, there are many easy and creative ways to take a break and find peace.

While elections are important, maintaining your mental health is just as crucial. By approaching political discussions with empathy, being mindful of your emotional responses, and reducing your exposure to online noise, you can navigate this season with more peace and balance.

“Glimmers” are the opposite of “triggers”. Where triggers cause us to feel unsafe or relive past traumas, “glimmers” cause us to feel a sense of safety, calm, connection, and peace.  Furthermore, looking for “glimmers” promotes healing, resilience, and a positive mindset.  When one asks you “what are your triggers?”, most likely the response comes quickly. “Glimmers” on the other hand, might be harder to access.  As you practice searching for “glimmers,” you will be able to access these small moments more often, leading to feeling more calm and peace in your nervous system.

Our early childhood experiences significantly influence our attachment styles. Being securely attached typically means that during childhood, you experienced protection, presence/support, autonomy, interdependence, relaxation, trust, and resilience from your primary caregivers. While basic needs like food, water, and shelter are essential, emotional and psychological needs are equally important for developing a secure attachment.

Practicing mindfulness before you get to a place of crisis, extreme stress, or an unplanned major life event, can be beneficial as you enter those seasons. You do not have to set expectations that you cannot live up to, instead start small, such as just on the weekends, or 5-10 minutes when you wake up or go to bed, or between classes or meetings. As a therapist, I often begin sessions with a short mindfulness practice as a way to model a new skill, and as a way to stop, pause, and bring calm to the therapy space.

In relationships, emotional flooding is the overwhelming reaction to negativity from partners. Recognizing signs like rapid heartbeat is crucial. Strategic pauses and returning to the conversation calmly are vital to prevent escalation and strengthen bonds.

In the pursuit of avoiding burnout, it's important to prioritize what truly matters to us. This means letting go of the pressure to meet external expectations and focusing on activities, relationships, and pursuits that align with our values. By doing so, we create a more intentional and fulfilling life that contributes to our overall well-being.

As women navigating through all of our responsibilities and expectations, recognizing the signs that indicate a need for boundaries is crucial for maintaining mental health. Watch out for neglecting self-care, wanting to run away from responsibilities, feeling overwhelmed, feeling resentful towards others, avoiding interactions, being unable to ask for help, or feeling burned out.