Therapist-Approved Sensory Stimulation Tools for Emotional Regulation
Whether you’re neurodivergent, struggling with self-harm, or frequently experience anxiety or panic, sensory stimulation tools can be the grounding support you need as you walk through daily life.
What Is CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)?: The Gold Standard for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is one of the best ways to treat insomnia. But many people have never heard of it, and certainly don’t know how it works. Craving a better night’s sleep? Keep reading to learn more about CBT-I and how it can help.
10 Signs of Trauma Bonding
What is trauma bonding, and how does it differ from the ways in which it’s commonly discussed? Keep reading to learn about the 10 signs of trauma bonding and what it really means to have a trauma bond.
Do You Have Anxiety? | Mindfulness Exercises to Support a More Regulated Nervous System
If you regularly deal with anxiety, mindfulness exercises can be a valuable tool to integrate into daily life. These exercises help promote nervous system regulation, and are most successful when practiced alongside the support of a licensed therapist.
Support Through Loss: Grief Counseling in Portland, Oregon
Grief is a universal experience—one that does not have to be walked through alone. Typically associated with death, feelings of grief can follow a wide range of experiences. Whether you’re grieving the death of a friend or family member, the loss of a pet, or the pain of divorce, grief counseling can be instrumental in supporting you through the process of healing from grief.
ACT vs. DBT: What's the Difference?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are two widely-used types of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). While these two modalities share a few similarities, they involve very different therapeutic techniques.
Complex PTSD vs. PTSD: Discovering the Difference
Knowing how to navigate your mental health needs can be a challenge, especially if you’ve experienced trauma. Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are two conditions that can occur in trauma survivors—but what differentiates the two?
Anxiety vs. PTSD: What’s the Difference?
Most people will experience feelings of anxiety at different points over the course of their lives, and if these feelings persist, they may receive a formal anxiety diagnosis—often Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD. Anxious feelings often increase after a traumatic event. But at what point does what seems to be anxiety become something more complex?
What Insurance Do I Have? Understanding Health Insurance for Therapy
When beginning the process of signing up for therapy, understanding your health insurance and its benefits can be one of the most daunting obstacles. However, your insurance doesn’t have to stand in the way of getting the mental health support you need. At Aspire Psychology, our team of experts is here to walk you through each step of the intake process, including navigating your insurance plan.
What Is EMDR? | EMDR Therapy in Portland, Oregon
In recent years, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has gained popularity for the treatment of trauma-based mental health conditions. It’s practiced by more than 100,000 clinicians across the world, and millions of people have been treated successfully. But what is EMDR, and how does it work? Keep reading to learn more.
5 Somatic Therapy Exercises You Can Do At Home
The beauty of somatic therapy exercises is that many of them can easily be integrated into daily life. For patients working through anxiety, depression, or trauma, incorporating simple somatic approaches can be incredibly beneficial. Keep reading to learn about a few somatic therapy exercises you can do at home.
Dating an Avoidant Attachment Style: Understanding Your Partner
Have you ever wondered if you’re dating someone with an avoidant attachment style? If your partner displays avoidant tendencies, you may be unsure whether these tendencies are isolated or part of a deeper attachment style.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
A newer approach to therapy, somatic therapy emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and the mind-body connection. But how does it work—and who will most benefit from somatic therapy approaches? Keep reading to learn more from Aspire Psychology psychologist Ryan Varian, PsyD.
How Can an Emotional Eating Therapist Help Me? 8 Tips to Control Emotional Eating
Most people can relate to turning to a comfort meal or sweet treat after a hard day. But when does this practice go from an occasional occurance to a consistent coping mechanism and become emotional eating? And can an emotional eating therapist help?
Psychologist Jane Hobart, PsyD at Aspire Psychology shares about the differences between emotional eating and eating disorders, how to recognize when emotional eating has become a problem, and how an emotional eating therapist can help.
Will Taking a GLP-1 Impact My Mental Health? Emotional and Behavioral Changes to Watch For
In recent years, GLP-1s have become some of the most talked about medications in the medical community. However, despite the extensive attention they’ve received, there is still a lot to learn about GLP-1s, and researchers continue to study and discover more about this recent addition to the world of healthcare. Wondering if taking a GLP-1 will impact your mental health? Psychologist Jane Hobart, PsyD at Aspire Psychology shares more about what to expect, as well as what to look out for while on a GLP-1.
Seasonal Affective Disorder Test: Do I Have Seasonal Affective Disorder?
The darker months can dampen anyone’s spirits—but how do you know if something more serious is going on? If you’re wondering if your lethargy, mood changes, and persistent feelings of hopelessness are more than the winter blues, keep reading to learn more and take a seasonal affective disorder test.
Caring for Your Mental Health in the New Year: Why You Shouldn’t Quit Therapy When Your Deductible Restarts
The new year is just around the corner, and there’s no better time to prioritize your mental health. If you’ve already begun your therapy or medication journey, the new year is a great chance to resolve to continue working toward healing. Keep reading to learn more about how you can best care for your mental health in the new year—and why a big part of that is being consistent with therapy.
Signs of Codependency: Am I In a Codependent Relationship?
In recent years, the term codependent has become a buzzword, often used loosely in everyday conversation and across the internet. The term, which was initially used in addiction recovery, has quickly become the pop psychology synonym for someone who might be clingy or needy, and has led to a great deal of confusion about what codependency actually is.
Caring for Your Mental Health During the Holidays: Navigating Holiday Stress, Grief, and Interpersonal Challenges
The end-of-year holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. Yet, for many, it can be a period filled with increased stress, conflict, or a sense of loneliness and disconnection. When the people and culture around you emphasize festivity and cheer, it can be isolating when your internal experience doesn’t match the surrounding environment.
Psychiatrist vs. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: What’s the Difference?
Making the decision to prioritize your mental health is a huge step toward building a healthy, joyful life — and for many people, this means finding the right provider to prescribe or manage medication for a mental illness. But knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming, especially as you navigate a sea of unfamiliar terminology.
