Nest Counseling Blog
When Grief Feels Complicated
Grief doesn’t follow a straight line. Sometimes it feels like sadness, but other times it’s numbness, anger, anxiety, or even guilt. You might be going through the motions and wondering why this loss still hurts so deeply—long after others expect you to be “okay.”
Grief During the Holidays
Grief during the holidays isn’t just about sadness. Sure, there might be tears when a favorite song plays or when you pull out that one ornament. But grief can also look like anger when someone says the wrong thing or a deep ache when everyone else seems so joyful. Sometimes it’s just plain exhaustion from pretending you’re okay when you’re not.
Parting After Childhood Trauma
Parenting is never easy, but when you’ve experienced childhood trauma, it can feel like navigating a minefield of emotional triggers. You might find yourself reacting in ways that surprise even you—feeling disproportionately angry, shutting down, or becoming hypervigilant about your child’s safety. Your past has shaped you, and when parenting stirs up old wounds, it can feel overwhelming.
Postpartum Depression: Beyond the Baby Blues
After giving birth, it’s natural to experience a mix of emotions—joy, exhaustion, and sometimes even sadness. For many new mothers, these mood swings are part of the “baby blues,” a temporary adjustment period in the first two weeks postpartum. The baby blues often involve mild mood changes, tearfulness, and feelings of overwhelm, but they typically ease on their own. Postpartum Depression (PPD) is different.
Therapy for Therapists
As therapists, we know the value of mental health care—but when it comes to seeking help ourselves, shame can creep in. Many of us feel we should be able to manage our struggles on our own, and admitting we need support can trigger feelings of failure. But therapists are human, too. We face our own challenges, including burnout, vicarious trauma, stress, and unresolved childhood issues.
Healing from Sexual Assault: Support is Available When You’re Ready
Experiencing sexual assault is a deeply painful and traumatic event. It can affect your body, mind, and emotions in ways you might not even realize. Trauma from assault can show up in many forms—nightmares, anxiety, difficulty trusting others, or even physical symptoms like chronic pain or tension. Shame often accompanies this trauma, and reaching out for help can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
Birth Trauma
Birth is supposed to be one of the most transformative moments of your life—but what if it didn’t go the way you hoped? What if you’re left feeling shaken, scared, or haunted by what happened? This is the reality of birth trauma, and you’re far from alone. Studies show that up to 45% of women report their birth as traumatic, and 1 in 3 experience some form of PTSD symptoms after childbirth.