“The road will always be chaotic. The question is, are we making it worse?”- FXTX Staff, Fort Worth: the city’s magazine. Most people would answer the question above with a quick, “Of course we are making it worse!” It’s easy to blame other drivers when stress and conflicts arise on the road. But what if there is more to it? Driving in itself can be stressful for some. For others, it can be enjoyable. The chaos goes beyond our attitude towards driving and involves how we enga

What are parasocial relationships? Parasocial relationships, a term recently linked to social media, in which a person experiences a compelling bond that may feel intimate or familiar with someone they don’t actually know personally. This is often seen with celebrities, social media influencers, youtubers, etc. These connections are real for the individual who has created the bond, despite the lack of exchanging feelings. These connections manifest in various ways, from admir

A few days ago, I was the parent who got up when somebody cried. I could pick up my children, get them where they needed to go, grab the thing someone forgot, change a diaper, make food, chase a toddler, get everyone into the car, and do the thousand tiny physical tasks involved in parenting young children without consciously thinking about what my body was doing. Then I got hurt. And after surgery to repair my ACL, both menisci, and a more complicated fracture than we initia

Do you ever find yourself brushing off compliments or feeling uncomfortable when someone says something kind? You’re not alone. Learning to receive compliments without shrinking yourself can feel impossible, but it’s a powerful way to practice self-compassion and recognize your worth. For many people, accepting a compliment can feel uncomfortable. You might feel the urge to: ● Downplay it: “Oh, it’s not that big of a deal.” ● Deflect it: “You’re just being nice.” ● Redirect i

Have you ever wondered: “Why is my child drawing in therapy?” “How is playing with sand supposed to help?” “Why are they listening to music?” “Are they actually doing therapy?” 👀 The answer is yes! Expressive arts can be a meaningful part of the therapeutic process, especially when working with children and teens. So, what are expressive arts? Expressive arts involve using different creative forms such as art, music, movement, writing, play, storytelling, and other forms of

There’s a very specific kind of exhaustion that sneaks up on high-functioning people. It does not always arrive loudly. It does not always look like falling apart. Sometimes burnout looks like being productive, responsible, driven, helpful, organized, and “on top of things.” Until one day, you are not. And then comes the question: “Why didn’t I notice the burnout coming?” The uncomfortable answer for many of us is: Because I mistook it for ambition. Classic. Burnout Does Not

Big news from ABC Counseling Inc.: we have officially moved from Suite 775 to Suite 640! Yes, the boxes were packed. The furniture was shifted. The signs were changed. There may have been a few “Where did we put that?” moments along the way. But we are here, settling in, and feeling excited about this fresh new chapter. A move may seem like just a change in office space, but for us, Suite 640 represents something more. It feels like a reset. A new beginning. A chance to breat

Imagine seeing a child struggling in deep water. They’re panicking. Exhausted. Barely keeping their head above the surface. Most people wouldn’t stand safely at the edge and yell: “Kick harder.” “You need to keep up.” “Other kids are swimming just fine.” “This will make you stronger.” We would recognize that the child was overwhelmed. We would move toward them — not away from them. We would help them feel safe before expecting them to swim again. And yet, emotionally, people

There’s a moment that shows up in relationships—quiet at first, then suddenly unmistakable. Someone gets hurt. They hold it in. They try to be patient, reasonable, calm. They give the benefit of the doubt. They minimize their own feelings to keep the peace. And then… they can’t anymore. They react. Not always perfectly. Not always gently. But honestly. And that’s when something subtle—but deeply revealing—can happen. The focus shifts. Instead of talking about what caused the